New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

New Mexico House Bill HB547 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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28	28	HOUSE BILL 547
29	29	57
30	30	TH LEGISLATURE
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33	33	STATE
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35	35	OF
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39	39	MEXICO
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42	42	FIRST SESSION
43	43	,
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45	45	2025
46	46	INTRODUCED BY
47	47	Rod Montoya and Andrea Reeb
48	48	AN ACT
49	49	RELATING TO CRIMINAL SENTENCING; REQUIRING A JUDGE TO ONLY
50	50	CONSIDER AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES FOR THE ALTERATION OF A
51	51	BASIC SENTENCE OF A PERSON CONVICTED OF A SERIOUS VIOLENT
52	52	OFFENSE.
53	53	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
54	54	SECTION 1. Section 31-18-15.1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1979,
55	55	Chapter 152, Section 2, as amended) is amended to read:
56	56	"31-18-15.1. ALTERATION OF BASIC SENTENCE--MITIGATING OR
57	57	AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES--PROCEDURE.--
58	58	A. The court shall hold a sentencing hearing to
59	59	determine if mitigating or aggravating circumstances exist and
60	60	take whatever evidence or statements it deems will aid it in
61	61	reaching a decision to alter a basic sentence. For a defendant
62	62	convicted of a serious violent offense as defined in Section
63	63	.229675.1 underscored material = new
64	64	[bracketed material] = delete
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90	90	33-2-34 NMSA 1978, the judge may only consider aggravating
91	91	circumstances. The judge may alter the basic sentence as
92	92	prescribed in Section 31-18-15 NMSA 1978 upon:
93	93	(1) a finding by the judge of any mitigating
94	94	circumstances surrounding the offense or concerning the
95	95	offender; or
96	96	(2) a finding by a jury or by the judge beyond
97	97	a reasonable doubt of any aggravating circumstances surrounding
98	98	the offense or concerning the offender.
99	99	B. When the determination of guilt or innocence for
100	100	the underlying offense is made by a jury, the original trial
101	101	jury shall determine whether aggravating circumstances exist.
102	102	If the offender waives a jury trial for the underlying offense,
103	103	the offender retains the right to a jury determination of
104	104	aggravating circumstances. If the offender waives a jury
105	105	determination of aggravating circumstances, the basic sentence
106	106	may be altered upon a finding by the judge beyond a reasonable
107	107	doubt of any aggravating circumstances surrounding the offense
108	108	or concerning the offender.
109	109	C. For the purpose of this section, the following
110	110	shall not be considered aggravating circumstances:
111	111	(1) the use of a firearm, as provided in
112	112	Section 31-18-16 NMSA 1978;
113	113	(2) a prior felony conviction, as provided in
114	114	Section 31-18-17 NMSA 1978;
115	115	.229675.1
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143	143	(3) the commission of a crime motivated by
144	144	hate, as provided in the Hate Crimes Act; or
145	145	(4) any evidence relating to the proof of an
146	146	essential element of the offense.
147	147	D. Not less than five days prior to trial or a
148	148	sentencing proceeding pursuant to a plea agreement, the state
149	149	shall give notice that it intends to seek an increase to an
150	150	offender's basic sentence based upon aggravating circumstances.
151	151	The notice shall state the aggravating circumstances upon which
152	152	the sentence increase is sought.
153	153	E. Presentation of evidence or statements regarding
154	154	an alleged aggravating circumstance shall be made as soon as
155	155	practicable following the determination of guilt or innocence.
156	156	F. If the judge determines to alter the basic
157	157	sentence, the judge shall issue a brief statement of reasons
158	158	for the alteration and incorporate that statement in the record
159	159	of the case.
160	160	G. The amount of the alteration of the basic
161	161	sentence for noncapital felonies shall be determined by the
162	162	judge. However, in no case shall the alteration exceed one-
163	163	third of the basic sentence; provided that when the offender is
164	164	a serious youthful offender or a youthful offender, the judge
165	165	may reduce the sentence by more than one-third of the basic
166	166	sentence."
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168	168	.229675.1