Only one bill was passed during the 2024 special legislative session, and it had nothing to do with crime.
House Bill 1 focused on funding for flood and fire response funding, pilot projects, healthcare, and resources for the courts.
The bill took over $200,000 from legislative cash balances for expenses from the session. One hundred million dollars from the general fund went toward several agencies for expenses related to wildfire relief. They gave $3 million to the Administrative Office of the Courts for assisted outpatient treatment programs and competency diversion pilot programs.
However, the Senate and House adjourned within six hours on July 18 without addressing a majority of the bills Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham wanted to see pass into law.
On July 17 Lujan Grisham held a press conference in which she laid out her top concerns for the special session. The list of her concerns were:
- Criminal Competency: Numerous criminal defendants are released without receiving essential mental health services due to outdated competency standards.
- Mental Health Treatment Standards: Current definitions of “danger to self” and “danger to others” are inadequate, preventing individuals with severe mental illness from receiving necessary care.
- Crime Reporting: Inconsistent crime and ballistic reporting by local law enforcement agencies hampers effective criminal investigations.
- Pedestrian Safety: New Mexico leads the nation in pedestrian fatalities, with many accidents involving individuals on medians.
- Gun Violence: The state faces high rates of gun violence, often perpetrated by convicted felons.
- Organized Crime: The rise and complexity of organized crime necessitates updates to the Racketeering Act, which states that it is unlawful for a person to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity in order to acquire or maintain, directly or indirectly, an interest in or control of an enterprise. Racketeering is defined as dishonest and fraudulent business dealings.
- Drug Overdoses: Hundreds of New Mexicans die from drug overdoses every year, many of which are the result of the widespread availability of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid up to 50 times stronger than heroin.
- Recent Fires: The South Fork and Salt fires have devastated communities, requiring state intervention and support. Communities affected by the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon fires continue to need assistance.
