At noon today, the 2023 New Mexico Legislative Session came to a close. Only one bill, HB9, passed. See below for more details on that bill. All the other anti-gun bills we were fighting against died. That list includes proposed bans on magazines and guns, waiting periods, age restrictions, FFL and gun manufacturer civil liability, and the polling place gun ban. Thank you to everyone who spoke out against these bills. There were a number of Republican, and some Democrat, legislators who fought hard for our rights in Santa Fe and we thank them.

We are now preparing for the possibility of a special session focused on anti-gun legislation. NMSSA has already begun to prepare for such a session. If there is one, it is likely to be short, as special sessions have been in the past. To maximize our voice during a potential special session on gun bills, we will be holding a rally in Santa Fe during the special session if the governor calls one. Please continue to watch for our alerts for news of a possible special session.

HB9: This bill is the one that passed and was signed by the governor. This bill will charge a gun owner with a misdemeanor if a third-party minor uses their firearm to threaten or injure someone. There is a felony charge for the gun owner if a third-party minor uses their firearm to kill someone. The bill, in its final version, does not specify how a firearm must be stored, but instead allows for the method of storage be used as a defense for a gun owner charged with a crime under the bill.

House Consumer and Public Affairs Members
Joanne J. Ferrary – (D) joanne.ferrary@nmlegis.gov 505-986-4844
Angelica Rubio – (D) angelica.rubio@nmlegis.gov 505-986-4210
John Block – (R) John.Block@nmlegis.gov 505-986-4220
Stefani Lord – (R) stefani.lord@nmlegis.gov 505-986-4453
Andrea Romero – (D) andrea@andrearomero.com 505-986-4243
Liz Thomson – (D) liz.thomson@nmlegis.gov 505-986-4425

House Judiciary Members
Christine Chandler – (D) christine.chandler@nmlegis.gov 505-986-4411
Andrea Romero – (D) andrea@andrearomero.com 505-986-4243
William “Bill” R. Rehm – (R) bill.rehm@nmlegis.gov 505-986-4214
Eliseo Lee Alcon – (D) eliseo.alcon@nmlegis.gov 505-986-4416
Gail Chasey – (D) gail@gailchasey.com 505-986-4777
Ryan Lane – (R) RYAN@LANEFORLIBERTY.COM 505-986-4758
Javier Martínez – (D) javier.martinez@nmlegis.gov 505-986-4782
Matthew McQueen – (D) matthew.mcqueen@nmlegis.gov 505-986-4423
Greg Nibert – (R) greg.nibert@nmlegis.gov 505-986-4211
Andrea Reeb – (R) Andrea.Reeb@nmlegis.gov 505-986-4215
Reena Szczepanski – (D) reena.szczepanski@nmlegis.gov 505-986-4777

Zac Fort

NMSSA

We have less than three days left in the 2023 Legislative Session. What happens in the coming hours will determine what legislation passes, or fails to pass. Here are the bills we are tracking as the session comes to a close. If a bill is not listed here, it is not quite dead yet, but faces a narrow, uphill battle to pass.

HB9: This bill is the one that passed and has been signed by the governor so far. This bill will charge a gun owner with a misdemeanor if a third-party minor uses their firearm to threaten or injure someone. There is a felony charge for the gun owner if a third-party minor uses their firearm to kill someone. The bill, in its final version, does not specify how a firearm must be stored, but instead allows for the method of storage be used as a defense for a gun owner charged with a crime under the bill.

HB100: The house version of a 14-day waiting period is still on the floor of the house waiting for a vote, but the governor is pushing hard to try to move the bill before the session comes to a close. Use this link to tell house members to oppose the bill. Even if you have contacted them before, we need you to do it again to keep up the pressure against the bill.

SB44: This bill would ban the open or concealed carry of firearms within 100ft of a polling place. It has been sitting on the house floor for a few days now with no vote taken yet.

SB427: This is the senate version of a 14-day waiting period. It has been sitting on the floor of the senate for several days now with no action taken yet. Use this link to tell members of the senate to oppose the bill.

SB428: This bill would make it easier for the State or New Mexico or anti-gun groups to sue gun manufacturers or retailers in New Mexico. It will be in the House Judiciary Committee on 3/16 at 9:00am in Room 309 (Zoom Link).

House Consumer and Public Affairs Members
Joanne J. Ferrary – (D) joanne.ferrary@nmlegis.gov 505-986-4844
Angelica Rubio – (D) angelica.rubio@nmlegis.gov 505-986-4210
John Block – (R) John.Block@nmlegis.gov 505-986-4220
Stefani Lord – (R) stefani.lord@nmlegis.gov 505-986-4453
Andrea Romero – (D) andrea@andrearomero.com 505-986-4243
Liz Thomson – (D) liz.thomson@nmlegis.gov 505-986-4425

House Judiciary Members
Christine Chandler – (D) christine.chandler@nmlegis.gov 505-986-4411
Andrea Romero – (D) andrea@andrearomero.com 505-986-4243
William “Bill” R. Rehm – (R) bill.rehm@nmlegis.gov 505-986-4214
Eliseo Lee Alcon – (D) eliseo.alcon@nmlegis.gov 505-986-4416
Gail Chasey – (D) gail@gailchasey.com 505-986-4777
Ryan Lane – (R) RYAN@LANEFORLIBERTY.COM 505-986-4758
Javier Martínez – (D) javier.martinez@nmlegis.gov 505-986-4782
Matthew McQueen – (D) matthew.mcqueen@nmlegis.gov 505-986-4423
Greg Nibert – (R) greg.nibert@nmlegis.gov 505-986-4211
Andrea Reeb – (R) Andrea.Reeb@nmlegis.gov 505-986-4215
Reena Szczepanski – (D) reena.szczepanski@nmlegis.gov 505-986-4777

Zac Fort

NMSSA