New Mexico House Republicans have announced their opposition to House Bill 8 (HB8), a substituted crime package unveiled during a recent House Judiciary Committee meeting, which also faced opposition from the ACLU and other groups. The announcement was made through a press release on February 12, 2025.
According to LegiScan, HB8 aims to reform competency evaluations by allowing courts to mandate treatment or commitment for incompetent defendants while expanding the list of crimes eligible for criminal commitment. The bill also seeks to establish community-based competency restoration for non-dangerous defendants and grants district attorneys the authority to seek assisted outpatient treatment.
"The crime package proposed by Democrats today does not tackle crime. New Mexicans have been calling for real solutions to secure our state and make our communities safer. For months, we’ve worked alongside law enforcement, prosecutors, and victims to find viable solutions. Democrats refuse to act, but we’re ready to get to work," said Representative Andrea Reeb in the press release.
Representative Nicole Chavez, said her long-standing advocacy for sensible crime solutions: "I’ve spent 10 years advocating for sensible solutions to crime. The Democrats claim we’re not ready to act on juvenile crime, but I say we haven’t acted soon enough. It’s time we start delivering for victims of violent crime and hold criminals accountable." She emphasized the importance of addressing juvenile violence as part of tackling crime effectively.
Representative Alan Martinez, Minority Whip, described the proposed crime package as "nothing but smoke and mirrors." He added that since the beginning of this legislative session, House Republicans have been committed to delivering real public safety solutions: "We’ve listened to the people of New Mexico, and their message is clear: Make New Mexico safe. Crime is out of control, and the time to act is now."
The New Mexico House Republicans emphasize reducing government size, promoting individual responsibility, and protecting personal freedoms. Their policy goals include preserving Second Amendment rights, tackling crime, addressing economic and infrastructure issues, empowering local authorities, enhancing penalties for firearm-related crimes, and opposing gun ownership restrictions for law-abiding citizens.
