New Mexico House Republicans have announced that Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has signed House Bill 8, the Democratic crime package, into law. They also emphasized the need for further legislative action to address public safety concerns. This announcement was made in a press release on February 27, 2025.
According to LegiScan, House Bill 8 reforms 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 establishes community-based competency restoration for non-dangerous defendants and grants district attorneys the authority to seek assisted outpatient treatment.
"Democrats have said that their crime package was 'just the appetizer'. New Mexicans are waiting for the full meal. We made it clear at the start of this legislative session that we were going to take New Mexico's crime crisis head-on and we don't plan on changing course anytime soon," said Representative Gail Armstrong, House GOP Leader.
Reeb said that while House Bill 8 is a start in addressing New Mexico's crime crisis, more must be done. "New Mexicans are demanding more and we are ready to deliver. It's great to hear that the Governor wants these common-sense crime bills on her desk, such as juvenile delinquency reform. I just hope that Democrats work with us to get this done."
Chavez emphasized the urgency of getting these common-sense crime bills on committee agendas, to the floor, and to the Governor's desk. "We are running out of time and we owe it to victims across this state to deliver real crime solutions. I'm glad that the Governor mentioned that these victims are still waiting for justice. And they will continue to wait for justice unless we take action now."
New Mexico House Republicans focus on reducing government size, promoting individual responsibility, and protecting personal freedoms. 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 and opposing gun ownership restrictions for law-abiding citizens.
