News From New Mexico Shooting Sports Association

 

We are down to the critical last two weeks of the 2025 New Mexico Legislative Session. Below is a list of the key bills that we are working on, there are still numerous other bills we are monitoring, but have been dormant for some time and are seen as a lower priority at this point. HB12, the "red-flag" gun confiscation law expansion, was passed out of the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee this afternoon. It now heads to the Senate Judiciary Committee. The bill would allow for a police officer to initiate an order and require firearms to be surrendered immediately as opposed to within 48 hours.  SB244, which would make it a crime for a minor to poses a firearm with very limited exceptions, has yet to be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee despite being scheduled twice. No reason has been given by the committee as to why it was rolled over twice, but it could be brought up again quickly at any Senate Judiciary Committee Meeting. SB279, the gas-operated firearm and magazine ban, was passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee late Friday night on a 5-4 vote. The bill has gone through numerous revisions, and it wasn't until yesterday that the final version was even released to the public. The bill now heads to the Senate Finance Committee for its next hearing. Similar bills introduced in past legislative sessions have not been sent to Senate Finance before. As the budget has yet to be passed, the Senate Finance Committee has been prioritizing working on the budget over hearing non-budget bills. While this means the bill could be delayed in the committee, we are concerned that through a procedural move the bill could bypass the committee and be sent to the floor next. We will alert you as soon as we have any information on when the bill will be heard next. SB318, which targets the firearms industry by making it easier to sue a gun retailer or manufacturer than any other type of business, was passed out of the Senate Tax, Business, & Transporation Committee quickly on Saturday afternoon. The bill was then scheduled for the Senate Judiciary Committee Monday, 3/10, in the afternoon in Room 321 (Zoom Link). Numerous firearm retailers have testified they would not be able to operate in New Mexico if the bill passes as it would be impossible to obtain insurance for their business. SB507, the concealed carry act rewrite, passed the Senate by a vote of 27-10. The bill was amended several times. Below is a summary of the key changes to the Concealed Carry Weapon Act in the version that passed the Senate. Removes the caliber and category qualification and requirements. Allows lawful permanent residents to obtain a permit. Reduces training time to 6 hours. Increases penalties for concealed carrying a loaded firearm without a permit to a misdemeanor from a petty misdemeanor. The reciprocity language was added back in during the bill's hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee. The importance of these last two weeks cannot be overstated as the landscape of firearm laws in New Mexico could drastically change as SB279 would be the most restrictive gun ban passed anywhere in country should it go through.