In a move that has sparked outrage among law enforcement, crime victims, and New Mexico residents, House Democrats in the state legislature voted on Saturday to pass House Bill 255 (HB 255), a controversial measure that includes a provision to give violent juvenile offenders up to $2,000 per month in taxpayer-funded stipends. At the same time, Democratic lawmakers killed House Bill 134 (HB 134), a bipartisan effort aimed at holding violent juvenile offenders accountable for their crimes.
HB 255, sponsored by Rep. Elizabeth “Liz” Thomson (D-Albuquerque), was marketed as an update to New Mexico’s juvenile justice system, but a closer look at the legislation reveals that it is more about financial handouts than meaningful reform. Buried within the bill is a three-year pilot program that grants substantial monthly stipends to former foster children and those previously incarcerated under the Delinquency Act, including individuals who committed violent crimes such as manslaughter and aggravated assault. The program, which has been dubbed the “Homicide Scholarship” by critics, notably Rep. Rod Montoya (R-Farmingon), will be administered by the Higher Education Department and is expected to cost taxpayers millions of dollars.
The bill also renames the Juvenile Community Corrections Act to the Juvenile Community Connections Act and increases grant funding for juvenile delinquency programs while lengthening supervised release for youthful offenders. However, the most controversial aspect remains the stipend program, which critics argue incentivizes criminal behavior rather than deterring it.
Democrats Kill Effort to Hold Juvenile Offenders Accountable
While HB 255 sailed through the House, the same group of Democratic lawmakers on the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee (CPAC) voted to table HB 134, effectively killing the bill. HB 134, introduced by a bipartisan coalition including Reps. Cynthia Borrego (D-Albuquerque), Art De La Cruz (D-Albuquerque), Nicole Chavez (R-Albuquerque), and Andrea Reeb (R-Clovis) sought to modernize New Mexico’s outdated juvenile justice laws. The bill aimed to ensure that minors who commit violent crimes, including first-degree murder, face meaningful consequences.
Currently, New Mexico law allows juveniles who commit even the most heinous crimes to be released by their 18th or 21st birthdays, regardless of the severity of their offenses. HB 134 would have revised the state’s 1970s-era juvenile code to allow for greater flexibility in sentencing and to include 14-year-olds charged with first-degree murder in the “youthful offender” category, making them eligible for adult sentencing.
Despite broad support from law enforcement officials and Democrat Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman, HB 134 was tabled by CPAC on a 4-2 party-line vote, with Reps. Joanne Ferrary (D-Las Cruces), Angelica Rubio (D-Las Cruces), Andrea Romero (D-Santa Fe), and Liz Thomson (D-Albuquerque) voting to kill the measure.
A Growing Public Safety Crisis
The decision to advance HB 255 while killing HB 134 comes amid a rising wave of juvenile crime in New Mexico. The Bernalillo County Juvenile Detention Center is already at capacity, housing 57 male juveniles and five females, with law enforcement officials warning that violent crime among minors is escalating. “We are experiencing a crisis among our youth, and unfortunately, this is not just a Bernalillo County issue,” said Bernalillo Deputy County Manager of Public Safety Greg Perez.
Many in the law enforcement community see HB 255 as a slap in the face to crime victims and a step in the wrong direction. “Tabling this bill—and basically not doing anything to address juvenile crime in the Legislature—sends a clear message that a lot of legislators don’t feel the same way I do, working in the trenches every day, in how big a problem it is,” said DA Sam Bregman.
The move also comes after failed attempts to strengthen penalties for fentanyl traffickers, as House Democrats similarly voted down HB 274, which would have imposed harsher sentences on major drug traffickers responsible for fueling the opioid epidemic.
Public Backlash and Calls for Accountability
As crime rates continue to rise and repeat offenders remain on the streets, New Mexico residents are growing increasingly frustrated with their lawmakers’ refusal to act. Crime victims and law enforcement officials have taken to social media to voice their anger over HB 255’s passage and HB 134’s demise.
“New Mexicans are being killed and maimed by teenagers who face no serious consequences. Lawmakers who endorse this hands-off approach to youth crime are complicit in these offenses,” wrote ABQ Raw in a scathing editorial.
Meanwhile, critics of HB 255 argue that providing thousands of dollars in taxpayer-funded stipends to violent criminals under the guise of rehabilitation is not the answer to New Mexico’s crime crisis. “Perhaps these legislators should sign up for shifts at their local juvenile detention centers and see firsthand how violent these offenders can be,” ABQ Raw suggested.
As the legislative session nears its end, many are left wondering whether public safety will ever be a priority for the current leadership in Santa Fe. With Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham calling for juvenile justice reform, the battle over crime legislation in New Mexico is far from over.
This provides a training ground for state and federal legislators. Buy ’em off. Give the criminals a lot of money.
I’m sure there are a few poor soul young people who might deserve another chance or a “step up,” but wholesale giveaways may cause many more problems then they solve.
Our next governor may, I hesitate to say, be even worse than MLG based on those who have been deemed potential candidates.
The lawmakers in this state are beyond help, just when you think that it can’t get any worse, they prove you wrong, sheer insanity…….and that’s exactly why me and my family are out.
WOW!!! I agree with you. Perhaps when a legislator is directly impacted by a juvenile crime themselves (or any criminal) they will “get it.” We already have issues with work ethic and workforce in our Gen Z and Gen Alpha teens… this is enabling and rewarding juvenile crimes! Like: “Oh if I commit a crime I can get $2000/mo?” Since when does all this translate into accountable moral conduct and common sense law decisions on the legislators’ part?? While at the same time they want to ban guns and preach to that cause?!?!!
It’s time to vote out liberal government and get comments sense people in. A vote for liberals is a vote for the same sad state of affairs that has plagued New Mexico for years.
We’re considering leaving too. We’ve had enough of this ultra-leftwing democrat shithole state. And it just keeps getting worse and worse.
Democrats reward criminals.
Kill the bill
Another steaming pile of dung Bill passed by elitist Dumocrats that do more for criminals than the populace. It is so sad that the average democrat can still vote for these terrible politicians instead of a Republican. Legislators should be hired that represent the betterment of the honest, working taxpayer, not just because there is a “D” in front of their name.
Wow! How disgusting!
Increase crime by making it lucrative. I would expect nothing less from the communofascists. They are effectively employing criminals to perpetrate violence and create fear — they are creating a problem so that they can offer their prepackaged solution. It’s called a Hegelian Dialectic.
1- increase violent crime by making it lucrative for juveniles to commit violent crime
2- public demands action
3- communofascists claim it’s firearms causing the violence and push for legislation to strip law abiding citizens of their Constitutional Rights.
Utter morons. I will never vote Democrat again.
US Attorney General Bondi needs to know this!
Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!
Dems never learn!!!
Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!
Don’t show up. Feel no need to vote. Elect this sh*t and this is what we all get…a**backwards progressive bulls**t liberals.
Hug a tree, go to prison, shoot a tree get a $24,000.00 taxpayer benefit.
Pay the representatives so they can work for us FULL TIME and not like vacationers every January-March.
This is getting beyond stupid.
Once again our leaders are bought and paid for. Such a sad state. They should be held accountable for very crime committed because of this bill.
As a mother who had her child murdered I am disgusted with our Legislators. Why is it so hard for the Democratic Legislators to hold criminals accountable. My son didn’t ask to have his life taken in a horrific violent manner, I didn’t ask to be dealt a life sentence without my son. I assist other families that have had their loved one murdered. I see on a daily the pain and agony we are living with. We see the justice system coddle the criminals year after year after year. Legislators need to remember that they WORK for us their constituents. The taxpayers want accountability, the citizens of this state want accountability. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!
New Mexico is a special kind of ignorant state and you can’t fix it, too many democrats!