The Second Session of the 57th Legislature

January 2-16, 2026: Legislation may be prefiled
January 20: Opening day (noon)
February 4: Deadline for introduction
February 19: Session ends (noon)
March 11: Legislation not acted upon by governor is pocket vetoed
May 20: Effective date of legislation not a general appropriation bill or a bill carrying an emergency clause or other specified date

BlueSky Profile

Senator Howie Morales’ Bill to Combat Car Theft Passes Key Committee

New Mexico Senate Democrats

For Immediate Release: March 6, 2017

Contact: Zach Marcus (505) 986-4882 Zachary.Marcus@nmlegis.gov

(Santa Fe, NM) Senator Howie Morales (D-28 Catron, Grants, Socorro) today passed legislation through Senate Judiciary Committee to combat car theft in New Mexico. Albuquerque is currently experiencing the worst car theft numbers in the nation.

Senate Bill 139 will enable a partnership between businesses and police to quickly identify stolen cars when they are sold to salvage and recycling centers and find the criminals responsible.

“When we try to recruit businesses to New Mexico, our auto theft numbers are a black eye on our communities. We need to quickly move to end this problem so that our state will be attractive to out of state businesses to locate here and hire our friends and neighbors who need to get back to work,” said Senator Morales.

Senator Morales continued, “This measure is a cost effective way to quickly engage our businesses and police officers to find, prosecute, and put car thieves behind bars where they belong. It will begin moving us away from being worst in the nation for auto theft.”

This bill now goes to the Senate Floor.

 

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