This message is from Ellen Pinnes and The Disability Coalition. 

The Legislature promised to make behavioral health and crime priorities in this year’s legislative session, and both chambers took steps in that direction last week.  The Senate on Friday passed its package of bills aimed at building up New Mexico’s behavioral health system, with only a handful of No votes on each one.  On the House side, the Judiciary Committee combined a number of crime-related bills – including one relating to defendants who are considered incompetent to stand trial – and the newly-created omnibus passed the full House on Saturday.  Opposition here was more pronounced, with 20 No votes from members of both parties. 

By the end of last week, the count of bills introduced in the legislative session was up to 834, plus 39 memorials and 32 resolutions.  Expect the number of bills to jump significantly this week to meet the introduction deadline on Thursday, the mid-point of the session.  The Disability Coalition’s Legislative Report #4 is attached.