Sat Mar 8 4:54PM - 13 days, 18 hours left in session
| Sponsor | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sen. Crystal Brantley | 35 | Catron, Doña Ana, Grant, Hidalgo, Luna, Sierra & Socorro |
| Status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| SJC | [Referred, not scheduled] | ||
| SFC | |||
This is the official nmlegis action history. I'm doing my best to translate the LONG/WEIRD-STRING to something less gibberishy. And before you ask, no, the "Legis Day" number has no mapping to the real world.
Actions: [2] SJC/SFC-SJC
| Legis Day | Action | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | referred | SJC/SFC |
| 2 | sent | SJC |
This table shows bill actions detected on Ed's system, using heuristics that may not be 100% accurate and which may not reflect the "official" nmlegis chronology. It is probably more than you care to know.
| Jan 29 | filed: [Prefiled by Crystal Brantley; not yet on nmlegis] |
| [new] | |
| sent to SJC | |
| title: '[prefiled by Crystal Brantley; Not Yet on Nmlegis]' -> 'Death Penalty for Murder of Peace Officer' | |
| actions: 'SPREF' -> '[2] SJC/SFC-SJC' | |
| new sponsor: Crystal Brantley |
SENATE BILL 187
57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2025
INTRODUCED BY
Crystal Brantley
AN ACT
RELATING TO CAPITAL FELONY SENTENCING; ALLOWING FOR THE DEATH PENALTY FOR MURDERING A PEACE OFFICER.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
SECTION 1. Section 31-20A-2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1979, Chapter 150, Section 3, as amended) is amended to read:
"31-20A-2. CAPITAL FELONY--DETERMINATION OF SENTENCE.--
A. If a jury finds, beyond a reasonable doubt, that one or more aggravating circumstances exist, as enumerated in Section 31-20A-5 NMSA 1978, the defendant shall be sentenced to life imprisonment without possibility of release or parole; provided that the defendant may be sentenced to death if the aggravating circumstance was that the victim was a peace officer who was:
(1) acting in the lawful discharge of an official duty when the peace officer was murdered; or
(2) not acting in the lawful discharge of an official duty, but the defendant targeted the victim because of the victim's status as a peace officer.
B. If the jury does not make the finding that one or more aggravating circumstances exist, as enumerated in Section 31-20A-5 NMSA 1978, the defendant shall be sentenced to life imprisonment."
SECTION 2. Section 31-20A-5 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1979, Chapter 150, Section 6, as amended) is amended to read:
"31-20A-5. AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES.--The aggravating circumstances to be considered by the sentencing court or jury pursuant to the provisions of Section 31-20A-2 NMSA 1978 are limited to the following:
A. the victim was a peace officer who was acting in the lawful discharge of an official duty when [he] the peace officer was murdered;
B. the victim was a peace officer who was not acting in the lawful discharge of an official duty, but the defendant targeted the victim because of the victim's status as a peace officer;
[B.] C. the murder was committed with intent to kill in the commission of or attempt to commit [kidnaping] kidnapping, criminal sexual contact of a minor or criminal sexual penetration;
[C.] D. the murder was committed with the intent to kill by the defendant while attempting to escape from a penal institution of New Mexico;
[D.] E. while incarcerated in a penal institution in New Mexico, the defendant, with the intent to kill, murdered a person who was at the time incarcerated in or lawfully on the premises of a penal institution in New Mexico. As used in this subsection, "penal institution" includes facilities under the jurisdiction of the corrections [and criminal rehabilitation] department and county and municipal jails;
[E.] F. while incarcerated in a penal institution in New Mexico, the defendant, with the intent to kill, murdered an employee of the corrections [and criminal rehabilitation] department;
[F.] G. the capital felony was committed for hire; and
[G.] H. the capital felony was murder of a witness to a crime or any person likely to become a witness to a crime, for the purpose of preventing report of the crime or testimony in any criminal proceeding or for retaliation for the victim having testified in any criminal proceeding."
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