Criminal Justice

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 197: INCREASE PENALTY FOR LARCENY OF FIREARM

HB 197 increases penalties for stealing firearms by reclassifying the theft of a firearm valued under $2,500 from a fourth degree felony to a third degree felony. This change means individuals convicted of stealing such firearms would face more severe prison sentences than under current law. The bill directly affects people who commit firearm theft in New Mexico, specifically targeting cases involving firearms worth less than $2,500.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeReclassifies firearm theft under $2,500 from 4th to 3rd degree felony, increasing mandatory prison sentences - aligns with 'oppose' indicators of expanding criminalization and harsher penalties.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Firearms

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in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 67: RESTRAINING ORDERS & FIREARMS

HB 67 requires courts issuing domestic violence protection orders to mandate that restrained parties immediately surrender all firearms in their possession or control to law enforcement or a federal firearms licensee. This applies to all protection orders, with courts permitted to allow alternative surrender methods or timing if needed. The bill also mandates law enforcement to provide written receipts to both the restrained party and the petitioning party within 72 hours, detailing surrendered firearms and filing copies with the court. It directly affects individuals subject to domestic violence protection orders and law enforcement agencies handling firearm surrenders.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates firearm surrender in domestic violence cases to prevent further harm, enhancing public safety and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Firearms

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signed · New Mexico · House Mar 4, 2026

HB 61: AGGRAVATED BATTERY ON POLICE OFFICER

HB 61 increases penalties for assaulting police officers in New Mexico. It directly affects individuals who commit battery against officers while they are lawfully performing duties. The bill reclassifies two types of offenses: causing temporary disfigurement or loss of body function becomes a fourth-degree felony, while inflicting great bodily harm or using deadly weapons raises the charge to a second-degree felony. These changes modify existing criminal penalties under Section 30-22-25 of New Mexico law, making the most severe assaults carry significantly higher penalties.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for assaulting police (reclassifies offenses as higher felonies), expanding criminalization and restricting defendant rights per oppose indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 46: CRIME OF DIGITAL SABOTAGE OF A BUSINESS

HB 46 creates a new criminal offense called "digital sabotage of a business" under New Mexico's Computer Crimes Act. It prohibits unauthorized interference with a business's digital resources - including redirecting customers, damaging operations, or spreading false information to harm reputation - with penalties based on the financial damage caused. Penalties range from a petty misdemeanor for damage under $250 to a second-degree felony for damage over $20,000, including enhanced penalties for repeat offenses. The law directly affects businesses (defined broadly as corporations, partnerships, or individuals) and anyone committing such acts against them.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by creating new offense and penalties for digital sabotage of businesses, aligning with 'expands criminalization' indicator.90% confidence

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in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 80: DOMESTIC ABUSE DEFINITIONS

SB 80 amends New Mexico's Family Violence Protection Act by expanding and updating the legal definition of "abuse" (replacing "domestic abuse"). The bill adds specific examples to the definition, including digital harassment, harm to animals, threats about immigration status, unauthorized sharing of private images, and harm to children. It explicitly clarifies that courts may include provisions protecting a victim's animals in orders of protection. This change directly affects victims seeking protection orders, courts issuing those orders, and law enforcement handling domestic violence cases under the updated definition.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands victim protections by adding digital harassment, animal harm, and immigration threats to abuse definition, strengthening court oversight in domestic violence cases.85% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill explicitly adds 'threats about immigration status' to domestic abuse definition, protecting immigrant victims from abuse tactics targeting their immigration status.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyAdds digital harassment and unauthorized image sharing to abuse definition, strengthening digital privacy protections for victims.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Law Enforcement

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in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 103: UNLAWFUL INTERFERENCE WITH AIRCRAFT

SB 103 makes it a crime to interfere with aircraft flight, specifically adding directing a laser at an aircraft to the list of prohibited acts. It directly affects individuals who point lasers at aircraft (e.g., from the ground), imposing penalties based on severity: a fourth-degree felony for first offenses, third-degree for repeat offenses or causing medical harm. The law amends New Mexico’s criminal code to define "laser" and sets sentencing requirements under existing felony statutes. This bill creates clear criminal penalties for actions that endanger aircraft operations, without changing other aspects of aviation safety law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by adding laser interference as felony offense, opposing reform efforts per indicators.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enhances aviation safety by penalizing laser interference with aircraft, directly protecting transportation infrastructure and operations within aviation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing Airports

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passed · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 60: REVISE CERTAIN CRIMINAL OFFENSE DEFINITIONS

HB 60 amends New Mexico's Victims of Crime Act to expand the definition of "criminal offense" to specifically include certain crimes committed against peace officers, such as aggravated assault, battery, or assault with intent to commit a violent felony. This change directly affects victims of these specific offenses by ensuring they qualify for victim services and compensation under the Act. The bill adds 3 new provisions (22-24 in the definition list) referencing crimes against officers under Section 30-22-22 to 30-22-25 of the state criminal code. It does not alter criminal penalties but adjusts eligibility for victim support programs. The bill was referred to committee with a "DO PASS" recommendation.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands victim services eligibility for crimes against peace officers, ensuring access to compensation under Victims of Crime Act, aligning with victim protection in criminal justice.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Victims' Rights Violent Crime

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in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 134: UNLAWFUL INSTALL OF GPS SYSTEM

HB 134 creates a new crime for knowingly installing a GPS tracking device to monitor another person's location without their knowledge, consent, or permission. This law applies to individuals who place such devices on vehicles or property to track movements, classifying the offense as a petty misdemeanor. Exemptions cover certified law enforcement officers acting in official duties and licensed private investigators. The bill defines a "global positioning system" as any device transmitting location data to track a person, vehicle, or property.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates new crime for unauthorized GPS tracking, protecting privacy rights without hindering law enforcement, aligns with civil rights in criminal justice.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill criminalizes unauthorized GPS tracking, directly protecting location privacy (a data privacy concern) under technology policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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died · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 146: FELON IN POSSESSION OF FIREARM PENALTY

HB 146 increases penalties for individuals with felony convictions who possess firearms or destructive devices. For a first offense, it raises the penalty to five years in prison (previously a general third-degree felony without a specified term). It also creates a new second-offense penalty of nine years for repeat offenders, applying specifically to those convicted of felonies within the past decade. The bill directly affects people with recent felony convictions who unlawfully possess firearms, including those convicted of certain violent crimes or under protection orders.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory prison terms (5-9 years) for felon firearm possession, expanding criminalization and harshening sentencing per indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy Firearms

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passed · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 206: CRIME VICTIM REPARATION ADDITIONAL CRIMES

This bill expands New Mexico's Crime Victims Reparation Act to include victims of assault, battery, criminal sexual contact, and armed robbery. It amends the law to explicitly list these offenses as qualifying for financial reparation, ensuring victims of these crimes can access compensation. The change modifies existing law (Section 31-22-8 NMSA 1978) by adding these specific crimes to the enumerated list of qualifying offenses. It does not cover property damage, as clarified in the current law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands victim compensation eligibility for specific violent crimes (assault, battery, etc.), strengthening victim support within criminal justice system per bill's explicit purpose.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Victims' Rights Violent Crime

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