Intro:
Even in a short 30-day session, Public Safety will be a priority for the 2024 Legislature.
Jason Espinoza reports from the Roundhouse:
Runs 1:30 Q: std
((Script)):
This is Jason Espinoza with today’s capitol report.
Ahead of the 2024 Legislative Session which officially started on Tuesday, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, a second term Democrat, along Democratic Legislators unveiled their public safety legislative agenda for the 30-day session.
30-day legislative sessions, which occur in even numbered years, are limited to budget-related items, and policy topics selected by the Governor. The public safety agenda outlined twenty-one pieces of legislation that would receive a message from the Governor so that they can be considered by the Legislature.
Several of the Governor’s initiatives include:
- The Firearm Industry Accountability Act, which amends state statute to allow gun manufacturers to be held liable for deceptive trade practices.
- An assault weapons ban
- Raising the age to purchase automatic firearms to 21 from the current minimum age of 18.
- Prohibiting guns in polling places, which would make it illegal to carry firearms within 100 feet of a polling place during an election
- A panhandling ban to prohibit unlawful use of public spaces, streets, sidewalks, and curbs.
- Data sharing requirements for law enforcement agencies to ensure the regular reporting of crime from law enforcement agencies to the state
- Senate Craig Brand, the Senate Republican Whip, released a suite of bills aimed at tackling crime in New Mexico on the same day. According to Senate Brandt his package was a two-pronged approach of targeting criminals and supporting law enforcement.
For the New Mexico New Network, I’m Jason Espinoza
