RELEASE: Gov. Lujan Grisham convenes special legislative session to address urgent public safety issues

[Skip to content](#main-content)

# PRESS RELEASES

1. [Home](https://www.governor.state.nm.us) 2. [Press Releases](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/press-releases/) 3. Gov. Lujan Grisham convenes special legislative session to address urgent public safety issues

# Gov. Lujan Grisham convenes special legislative session to address urgent public safety issues

Jul 17, 2024 | [Press Releases](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/press-releases/)


**SANTA FE** – Today, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham readout a proclamation convening a special session of the New Mexico State Legislature on July 18, 2024, to address critical public safety concerns affecting the state.

The governor’s call to action comes in the wake of ongoing crime and other public safety challenges that underscore the urgent need for legislative reform.

“Just this week, a violent felon, previously convicted of shooting a Portales police officer, struck again. This time, tragically, the victim didn’t escape with their life,” said **Gov. Lujan Grisham**. “This heartbreaking case highlights the necessity of immediate legislative action to help prevent such tragedies. I am open to compromise, but I need lawmakers to come to the table and work with me on behalf of New Mexicans. Together, we can make our state safer for all.”

Governor Lujan Grisham outlined several pressing issues necessitating legislative intervention:

* **Criminal Competency:** Numerous criminal defendants are released without receiving essential mental health services due to outdated competency standards.  * **Mental Health Treatment Standards:** Current definitions of “danger to self” and “danger to others” are inadequate, preventing individuals with severe mental illness from receiving necessary care.  * **Crime Reporting:** Inconsistent crime and ballistic reporting by local law enforcement agencies hampers effective criminal investigations.  * **Pedestrian Safety:** New Mexico leads the nation in pedestrian fatalities, with many accidents involving individuals on medians.  * **Gun Violence:** The state faces high rates of gun violence, often perpetrated by convicted felons.  * **Organized Crime:** The rise and complexity of organized crime necessitates updates to the Racketeering Act.  * **Drug Overdoses:** Hundreds of New Mexicans die from drug overdoses every year, many of which are the result of the widespread availability of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid up to fifty times stronger than heroin.  * **Recent Fires:** The South Fork and Salt fires have devastated communities, requiring state intervention and support. Communities affected by the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon fires continue to need assistance.

“Gun violence perpetrated by convicted felons is a pressing issue in New Mexico,” said **Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman**. “By increasing penalties for felons caught with firearms, we can reduce repeat offenses and enhance public safety.”

“The equation to solve the tragic stories of homelessness and addiction that plague NM city streets is complex and requires multiple angles of approach,” said **Miguel Tittmann,** I**AFF Local 244 President**. “We support Governor Lujan-Grisham and her agenda for this upcoming special session to bring solutions to this crisis.”

“This is certainly a step in the right direction when it comes to protecting the citizens of this state, but it’s merely a step, and we have a long way to go,” said **Shaun Willoughby, President, Albuquerque Police Officers Association**. “In order for this legislation to be effective it requires a state that is committed to providing services and support for those facing mental health and substance abuse issues and that is something we have been lacking. We hope this will be a start towards funding treatment and holding individuals accountable for their crimes against our communities.”

“We support these efforts to make our communities safer,” **Michael Richards, MD, MPA,** Senior Vice President for Clinical Affairs for University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center. “Safer communities are healthier communities.”

“As a former state Senator, I know that special sessions can be tough, and not all the details ready in advance, but least there is chance the work can be done; that’s why I have always supported any special session that helps us face our toughest challenges head on,” said **Mayor Tim Keller.** “I trust that our state leaders and advocates can deliver helpful legislation for Albuquerque and all of New Mexico.”

“Our officers are dedicated to serving and protecting our city, yet they face increasing risks and challenges in the field,” said **APD Chief of Police Harold Medina**. “Support from our partners is essential to providing them with the necessary tools, training, and technology to effectively combat crime and safeguard our community.”

“Public safety extends beyond policing; it encompasses the readiness and resilience of our fire and emergency services,” said **AFR Chief Emily Jaramillo**. “Addressing the mental health needs of individuals can reduce recidivism, promote rehabilitation, and foster a safer environment for everyone, while also lessening the burden on EMTs and hospitals.”

“As a third branch of public safety, ACS is dedicated to a comprehensive safety strategy that integrates behavioral and mental health into our model,” said **Albuquerque Community Safety Director Jodie Esquibel.** “We know it is vital to offer services and to our most vulnerable populations to promote public health and wellness.”

The Special Session Proclamation is currently being processed with the Secretary of State’s office. The Proclamation language is below.

###

Proclamation Language:

**_WHEREAS,_** _a significant amount of criminal defendants have their charges dropped due to a determination of incompetency and are allowed to go free without receiving the mental health services they need to address their mental health issues and prevent future criminal activity;_

**_WHEREAS_**_, the standard for imposing civil commitment or assisted outpatient treatment in New Mexico is outdated such that the definition of “danger to self” or “danger to others” creates a dangerously high bar to having someone receive the mental health treatment they need, which prevents officials and loved ones from getting those suffering from severe mental illness desperately needed care and jeopardizes community safety as a consequence;_

**_WHEREAS,_** _local law enforcement agencies do not consistently report crime and ballistic information to the Department of Public Safety, which is vital to effective criminal investigations and comprehensive analysis of criminal activities across jurisdictions;_

**_WHEREAS,_** _New Mexico has the nation’s highest rate of_ _pedestrian fatalities per capita, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association, and many of these fatalities and other vehicle-pedestrian accidents occur as a result of individuals unsafely remaining on medians;_

**_WHEREAS,_** _New Mexico has some of the highest rates of gun violence in the Nation, and much of this violence is perpetrated by convicted felons;_

**_WHEREAS,_** _New Mexico’s Racketeering Act needs to be updated to ensure that the State can stem the rise of organized crime by effectively prosecuting those involved in criminal organizations;_

**_WHEREAS,_** _hundreds of New Mexicans die from drug overdoses every year, many of which are the result of the widespread availability of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid up to fifty times stronger than heroin;_

**_WHEREAS,_** _communities across the State have been devastated by the South Fork and Salt Fires and other natural disasters, as noticed in Major Disaster Declaration DR-4795-NM, and continue to require aid from the federal government to address the aftermath of these natural disasters; and_

**_WHEREAS,_** _it is necessary for the New Mexico State Legislature to convene at the State Capitol Building to address these pressing issues._

**_NOW THEREFORE_**_, I, Michelle Lujan Grisham, Governor of the State of New Mexico, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Article IV, Section 6 of the New Mexico Constitution, do hereby issue this proclamation and call the Fifty-Sixth Legislature of the State of New Mexico into a Special Session at twelve o’clock p.m. on Thursday July 18, 2024, at the State Capitol Building in Santa Fe.  In accordance with Article IV, Section 6, this Special Session is called for the purpose of considering and enacting legislation concerning the following objects and no others: (1) amending certain procedures and requirements relating to criminal competency laws; (2) amending the definitions of “harm to self” and “harm to others” in the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code and the Assisted Outpatient Treatment Act; (3) requiring local law enforcement agencies to submit reports on crime incidents, ballistics information, and other relevant information to the Department of Public Safety on a monthly basis; (4) enacting the Unsafe Use of Public Highways and Medians Act to ensure safe use of medians and roadways by pedestrians; (5) increasing the penalties for felons and serious violent felons found in possession of a firearm; (6) amending the Racketeering Act to add various predicate offenses, expand the definition of “enterprise,” and add various crimes relating to racketeering activity; (7) increasing the basic sentence for crimes involving the possession or trafficking of fentanyl; (8) appropriating funds to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance eligible applicants that have been approved for FEMA public assistance funding for projects to replace or repair public infrastructure damaged by fire, flooding, or debris flows that were addressed as part of Major Disaster Declaration DR-4795-NM; and (9) appropriating funds for the expenses of the Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Special Session, 2024._

_Attest:_                                                                                   _Done at the Executive Office this_

_17__th_ _day of July 2024._

_Maggie Toulouse Oliver_                                                                              _Witness my hand and the Great Seal_

_Secretary of State_                                                                                            _of the State of New Mexico._

_Michelle Lujan Grisham_

_Governor_

[2024 First Special Session Proclamation](/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2024-First-Special-Session-Proclamation.pdf)

#### Recent Posts

*  [Governor appoints Rebecca Roose as Natural Resources Trustee](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/06/05/governor-appoints-rebecca-roose-as-natural-resources-trustee/)  * [U.S. Supreme Court approves Rio Grande compact settlement – Agreement ends 13-year interstate dispute](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/05/28/u-s-supreme-court-approves-rio-grande-compact-settlement-agreement-ends-13-year-interstate-dispute/)  * [Health care loan repayment expands to address doctor shortage – Record expansion part of strategy to add health providers in NM](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/05/26/health-care-loan-repayment-expands-to-address-doctor-shortage-record-expansion-part-of-strategy-to-add-health-providers-in-nm/) * [Governor declares statewide drought and severe fire conditions – Agencies will coordinate community and water protection efforts](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/05/20/governor-declares-statewide-drought-and-severe-fire-conditions-agencies-will-coordinate-community-and-water-protection-efforts/)    * [Governor Lujan Grisham leads trade mission to Japan](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/05/11/governor-lujan-grisham-leads-trade-mission-to-japan/)

## Press Release Archive

* [June 2026](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/06/) (1) * [May 2026](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/05/) (6) * [April 2026](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/04/) (5) * [March 2026](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/03/) (10) * [February 2026](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/02/) (21) * [January 2026](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/01/) (10) * [December 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/12/) (7) * [November 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/11/) (6) * [October 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/10/) (11) * [September 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/09/) (11) * [August 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/08/) (7) * [July 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/07/) (9) * [June 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/06/) (10) * [May 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/05/) (4) * [April 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/04/) (12) * [March 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/03/) (13) * [February 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/02/) (11) * [January 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/01/) (11) * [December 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/12/) (5) * [November 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/11/) (9) * [October 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/10/) (10) * [September 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/09/) (16) * [August 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/08/) (9) * [July 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/07/) (13) * [June 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/06/) (17) * [May 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/05/) (5) * [April 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/04/) (9) * [March 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/03/) (13) * [February 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/02/) (19) * [January 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/01/) (13) * [December 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/12/) (10) * [November 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/11/) (8) * [October 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/10/) (13) * [September 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/09/) (6) * [August 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/08/) (9) * [July 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/07/) (16) * [June 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/06/) (19) * [May 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/05/) (17) * [April 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/04/) (11) * [March 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/03/) (24) * [February 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/02/) (23) * [January 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/01/) (23) * [December 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/12/) (14) * [November 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/11/) (17) * [October 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/10/) (19) * [September 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/09/) (22) * [August 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/08/) (26) * [July 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/07/) (27) * [June 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/06/) (23) * [May 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/05/) (15) * [April 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/04/) (17) * [March 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/03/) (21) * [February 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/02/) (25) * [January 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/01/) (18) * [December 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/12/) (10) * [November 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/11/) (7) * [October 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/10/) (8) * [September 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/09/) (23) * [August 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/08/) (14) * [July 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/07/) (12) * [June 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/06/) (18) * [May 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/05/) (14) * [April 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/04/) (24) * [March 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/03/) (15) * [February 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/02/) (17) * [January 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/01/) (33) * [December 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/12/) (33) * [November 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/11/) (38) * [October 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/10/) (42) * [September 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/09/) (43) * [August 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/08/) (39) * [July 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/07/) (42) * [June 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/06/) (47) * [May 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/05/) (47) * [April 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/04/) (39) * [March 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/03/) (62) * [February 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/02/) (40) * [January 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/01/) (15) * [December 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/12/) (16) * [November 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/11/) (6) * [October 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/10/) (6) * [September 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/09/) (11) * [August 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/08/) (9) * [July 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/07/) (14) * [June 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/06/) (7) * [May 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/05/) (12) * [April 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/04/) (12) * [March 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/03/) (19) * [February 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/02/) (29) * [January 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/01/) (14) * [December 2018](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2018/12/) (1)

### Categories

* [2022 Wildfires](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022-wildfires/) * [COVID-19](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/covid-19/) * [Early Childhood Education](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/early-childhood-education/) * [Legislative Updates](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/legislative-updates/) * [Press Releases](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/press-releases/) * [Public Safety](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/public-safety/) * [Uncategorized](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/uncategorized/)

## Contact

The Office of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham is located on the fourth floor of the New Mexico State Capitol in Room 400.

Address: 490 Old Santa Fe Trail Room 400 Santa Fe, NM 87501

Phone: (505) 476-2200 Toll free: (833) 520-0020

## Quick Links

* [Open Positions](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/apply/open-positions/) * [Boards and Commissions](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/apply/boards-and-commissions/) * [Judicial and District Attorney Posts](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/judicial-and-district-attorney-posts/)

## Flag Status