New Mexico House Republicans have announced that Representative Andrea Reeb will co-sponsor House Bill 4 (HB 4), Criminal Competency and Treatment, alongside Democratic Representatives Christine Chandler and Marianna Anaya. This announcement was made in a press release on January 29.
According to the New Mexico Legislature, HB 4 mandates that competency evaluation reports include a professional's opinion on a defendant's ability to stand trial. If found incompetent, the report should assess whether the defendant meets criteria for involuntary commitment or assisted outpatient treatment. The bill provides for community-based competency restoration for non-dangerous defendants, expands crimes eligible for criminal commitment, and allows courts to advise district attorneys on initiating involuntary commitment proceedings. Additionally, it permits the use of evaluation reports in commitment proceedings and allows district attorneys or the Attorney General to file assisted outpatient treatment petitions up to 30 days after a defendant’s examination.
"I am proud to partner with my colleagues on this Criminal Competency and Treatment bill to help bring efficiency to New Mexico’s justice system. New Mexico’s crime crisis impacts us all—regardless of political affiliation. I look forward to bipartisan solutions like HB 4 being sent to the Governor’s desk this session to better the lives of all New Mexicans," said Reeb.
Reeb, according to her website, is a Clovis native and longtime prosecutor who served as the Ninth Judicial District Attorney for over 25 years with a 97% conviction rate. She specializes in child crimes and high-profile corruption cases and has actively advocated for crime prevention legislation since 2014.
The New Mexico House Republicans focus on reducing government size, promoting individual responsibility, and protecting personal freedoms. According to their website, they aim to preserve Second Amendment rights, address economic and infrastructure issues, and empower local authorities. Their policies include enhancing penalties for firearm-related crimes while opposing gun ownership restrictions for law-abiding citizens.
