New Mexicans deserve good policy. Let’s get it right.

Far too many New Mexicans, including our own families, have had their lives impacted by crime. Over the past 3 years, the Legislature has appropriated over $800 million to improve community safety, including recruiting and retaining law enforcement officers, and to address the root causes of crime. We have also increased penalties for second-degree murder and felon in possession of a firearm, cracked down on organized retail crime, passed common-sense measures to reduce gun violence, and strengthened pretrial monitoring.

When Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham called a special session, lawmakers rolled up their sleeves to consider her bill. It’s not just because it’s our constitutional duty as a separate and equal branch of government, but also because we share a sense of urgency about community safety.

We held six special sessions of the Legislature’s Courts, Corrections, and Justice Committee, where bipartisan lawmakers from both chambers heard from the Governor’s staff about her agenda to address the nexus of crime and behavioral health care. We convened law enforcement, judges, behavioral health providers, community advocates, and the public to discuss these issues and the Governor’s proposed policies.

We have spoken in good faith with the governor and provided feedback in public meetings and work sessions on multiple bills. We have also put forward our ideas, including a plan to expand access to much-needed behavioral health services. Meanwhile, we have continued to hear concerns from stakeholders about her proposals.

We heard serious concerns about the constitutionality of the begging law, which was recently renamed a “Median Safety” law. The law does nothing to improve pedestrian safety, but criminalizes panhandling and homelessness. It takes a one-size-fits-all approach that ignores the disparities in our rural and urban communities and risks crippling New Mexicans’ ability to engage in centuries-old traditions. It would also tie up valuable law enforcement resources for something that may not be enforceable.

The proposal to expand the state’s ability to involuntarily detain people contains alarmingly broad language. Disability advocates have warned that it could unfairly disenfranchise New Mexicans, especially the most vulnerable among us. It could also make it harder for people who genuinely want help to get it, overwhelming a behavioral health system that currently fails to meet the need.

The bill, sold as a way to prevent violent criminals from being released prematurely, would essentially take away the discretion of prosecutors and judges. It would require prosecutors to initiate involuntary commitment proceedings for individuals found incompetent but not dangerous, even if the prosecutor determines the proceedings are unnecessary. This would allow unnecessary trials to clog our already overburdened courts and delay justice for New Mexicans.

We are committed to continuing the public debate on these critical issues. We must also ensure that the legislation we pass does not do more harm than good.

A spokesperson for the governor said earlier this week that she was only willing to consider “small adjustments.” That’s not how good policy is made. The Legislature is the lawmaking body in the state. We know that New Mexicans are best served by a careful approach to policymaking.

This article was written by New Mexico House Speaker Javier Martínez (D-Albuquerque), House Leader Gail Chasey (D-Albuquerque), House Leader Reena Szczepanski (D-Santa Fe) and House Chairman Raymundo Lara (D-Chamberino)..