Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham expressed approval following the House Judiciary Committee's decision to pass House Bill 12, which proposes changes to the Extreme Risk Firearm Protection Order (ERPO) Act. The bill was passed with a 7-4 vote.

The proposed amendments include two major changes. The first change explicitly allows police officers to file petitions under the ERPO Act, removing any previous ambiguity in this regard. The second amendment eliminates the current 48-hour waiting period for firearm relinquishment once an order is issued. This adjustment aims to address concerns that such delays could pose risks and hinder effective responses to potential threats.

Governor Lujan Grisham stated, “By eliminating the 48-hour waiting period and requiring immediate firearm relinquishment, we’ll better protect our law enforcement officers and our communities. This revision to existing law closes a dangerous gap that puts lives at risk. I commend the House Judiciary Committee for their swift action on this legislation, and I strongly urge both chambers to act with the same sense of urgency this issue demands.”

The bill now awaits further consideration by both legislative chambers.