Republicans in the New Mexico Legislature criticized their Democrat colleagues for blocking bills the GOP hoped would worsen penalties for fentanyl dealing and exposure of the drug to children.
A Republican-sponsored memorial dedicating Oct. 14 to Oct. 18 as “Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Week” did advance from the Senate Rules Committee Monday with unanimous, bipartisan support but member Sen. Greg Nibert (R-27) called the passage “disingenuous” as other policy bills did not move in the final days of the ongoing session.
The last day of the 2024 Legislative Session was Feb. 15, meaning bills have only a couple more days to advance through the House and Senate before going to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s desk to become law.
As of Tuesday, House Bill 106, which would classify child exposure to fentanyl as a child abuse crime in New Mexico state statutes, had passed the House Judiciary Committee on Jan. 23 but had not moved passed the subsequent House Appropriations and Finance Committee.
SB 102, which would add penalties and expand the state’s definition of racketeering – targeting more enforcement against criminal enterprises like drug dealing operations – was also held up in the Senate Judiciary Committee after passing the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee.