Enchantment State News

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has called the New Mexico legislature into a Special Session on July 18th to address several crime bills. Despite past disagreements with the Governor, there is alignment on this initiative as these proposed bills aim to tackle issues related to repeat offenders and high crime rates.

Citizens are being urged to email New Mexico legislators, encouraging them to collaborate for a successful session. It is suggested that changing the subject line of the email may help it stand out in legislators' inboxes.

The key proposals include:

1. **Competency Bill**: This bill mandates judges to order district attorneys to consider filing for involuntary commitment if a defendant's competency is questioned. Judges can detain defendants for up to seven days to initiate the petition under certain circumstances.

2. **Involuntary Commitment**: This bill aims to broaden the definitions of "danger to self" and "danger to others" within the involuntary commitment statute.

3. **Felon in Possession**: This proposal upgrades penalties for felons found in possession of firearms during a crime from a third-degree felony to a second-degree felony, establishing mandatory minimum terms of nine years imprisonment. For serious violent felons, it changes the sentence from third-degree felony with up to nine years imprisonment, to second-degree felony with mandatory 12-year sentences.

4. **Median/Pedestrian Safety**: This bill would make it illegal to loiter on medians narrower than 36 inches in areas where speed limits are 30 mph or higher.

More information about these bills and resources on competency and repeat offenders in New Mexico can be found through additional provided links.

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