2022 Legislative Session

The 2022 legislative session in New Mexico ends on February 17 at noon. Until then, bookmark this page for the latest news on the bills that will protect the rights of New Mexicans.

• Voting Rights. This crucial legislation would expand and protect the right to vote in New Mexico including our Indigenous communities as well as those with prior felony convictions.
• Pretrial Release Conditions. Lawmakers are seeking to roll back crucial cash bail reforms New Mexico voters approved in 2016 despite a recent study showing the reforms are working.
• Tribal Remedy Framework. A comprehensive plan for meeting the educational needs of Native students and their tribal communities.
• Fine, Fee, and Cost Payment Flexibility. Provides flexibility and changes the requirements for payment of fines, fees and costs associated with conviction and expands community service options.

Visit our legislation page for a complete list of legislation we're working on this session.

We need your help! Throughout the legislative session until the close of the bill signing period on March 9, we will be sending e-mails to volunteers about the legislation we are working on and seeking help from people like you to testify in committee hearings and make phone calls to lawmakers. We will be providing stipends for those who travel to Santa Fe to testify in committee hearings.

If you are interested in helping us advance civil liberties this session and want instructions on how to get involved, e-mail Barron Jones at [email protected].

Today, SB43, the Second Chance Bill, is on the Senate floor. This bill creates consistency and predictability for all victims and communities across the state by standardizing youth sentences in accordance with the requirements of the constitution. You can read more about it here.

We have several bills approaching critical committee hearings, including Presumptive Pretrial Detention. The Senate introduced a copycat bill to the House version in SB189. That bill will be heard in the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee tomorrow.

Send Senators on that committee a message right now telling them to vote no on SB189.

We're officially at the halfway point of the 2022 legislative session. Today, along with coalition partners, we hosted a rally and press conference for the New Mexico Voting Rights Act. This bill will expand and protect voting rights for all New Mexicans if it were to become law.

Read up on what this bill does and why we strongly support it here.

Presumptive pretrial detention (HB5) will inevitably incarcerate innocent people. This bill will not make our communities safer and it doesn’t address the root causes of crime.

Today, we're asking you to send a message to members of the House Judiciary Committee telling them to vote no on HB5.

Yesterday, HB 81, Fines and Fees Reform passed through its first committee. HB 81 will ensure that we hold people accountable without punishing poverty, and that no time or taxpayer dollars are wasted collecting money from people without funds.

Thousands of New Mexicans are trapped in the criminal legal system because they cannot afford excessive fines and fees. These unjust fines and fees create an endless cycle of debt and poverty. They’re also expensive.

Jailing people who cannot afford to pay fines and fees comes at a huge cost to taxpayers. When New Mexico uses the justice system to fund the government through fines and fees, everyone loses.

Yesterday, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham added SB 43, the Second Chance Bill, to her call. SB 43 would abolish juvenile life without parole in New Mexico and create early eligibility for parole for those serving long adult sentences for crimes committed as children in our state. The bill will bring New Mexico into compliance with recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions and with national best practices.

We're calling on lawmakers to make SB 43 law this legislative session.

You can see our full press release here.

New Mexico has a 5.125% tax on all menstrual/hygine products. HB 32 would remove that tax to make menstrual products more accessible for New Mexicans. This morning, it passed out of its first committee! Next up is another committee before this bill would be heard on the House floor.

As we look ahead to the first weekend of this year's 30-day legislative session -- we are carefully monitoring bills as they are introduced and given committee assignments. We expect that the pace of the session will pick up next week, as multiple bills we are tracking will be heard in committee. Stay tuned on how you can help us advance justice this legislative session.

Legislative session has begun! Today at noon, legislators gathered to 'gavel in' for the 2022 legislative session. This year's 30 day session will end on February 17th at noon sharp. Stay tuned to this page for more information and the latest updates on the bills we are following this year.