COCKFIGHTING PENALTIES

This bill amends New Mexico law to establish specific penalties for cockfighting, separate from existing dog fighting rules. It creates a tiered penalty system: a first conviction for cockfighting is a petty misdemeanor, a second conviction is a misdemeanor, and third or subsequent convictions are a fourth-degree felony. The law directly affects individuals who sponsor, arrange, or participate in cockfights for monetary gain or entertainment, including those present without attempting to stop the event. The bill does not change penalties for dog fighting, which remain as fourth-degree felonies under current law.