NM House Dems pass ‘Homicide Scholarship,’ kill juvenile crime bill

The Piñon Post ^ | March 9, 2025 | Piñon Post staff

[CedarDave]

In a move that has sparked outrage among law enforcement, crime victims, and New Mexico residents, House Democrats in the state legislature voted on Saturday to pass House Bill 255 (HB 255), a controversial measure that includes a provision to give violent juvenile offenders up to $2,000 per month in taxpayer-funded stipends. At the same time, Democratic lawmakers killed House Bill 134 (HB 134), a bipartisan effort aimed at holding violent juvenile offenders accountable for their crimes.

HB 255 ... is more about financial handouts than meaningful reform. Buried within the bill is a three-year pilot program that grants substantial monthly stipends to former foster children and those previously incarcerated, including individuals who committed violent crimes such as manslaughter and aggravated assault. The program, dubbed the “Homicide Scholarship” by critics, ... is expected to cost taxpayers millions of dollars.

The bill ... increases grant funding for juvenile delinquency programs while lengthening supervised release for youthful offenders. However, ... critics argue [it] incentivizes criminal behavior rather than deterring it.

While HB 255 sailed through the House, the same group of Democratic lawmakers on the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee (CPAC) voted to table HB 134, effectively killing the bill. HB 134 ... sought to modernize New Mexico’s outdated juvenile justice laws. The bill aimed to ensure that minors who commit violent crimes, including first-degree murder, face meaningful consequences.

Currently, New Mexico law allows juveniles who commit even the most heinous crimes to be released by their 18th or 21st birthdays, regardless of the severity of their offenses. HB 134 would ... allow for greater flexibility in sentencing and include 14-year-olds charged with first-degree murder in the “youthful offender” category, making them eligible for adult sentencing.

Despite broad support HB 134 was tabled by CPAC on a 4-2 party-line vote ...

[CedarDave]

That's just the ticket NM Dims, keep the violent juvenile offenders out of jail and pay them $2,000 per month of taxpayer money. Now they won't have to shoplift or rob to get money for their drugs or to buy a weapon.

NM just gets crazier and crazier!

[CedarDave]

NM list PING!

I may not PING for all New Mexico articles. To see New Mexico articles by topic click here: New Mexico Topics

To see NM articles by keyword, click here: New Mexico Keywords

To see the NM Message Page, click here: New Mexico Messages

(The NM list is available on my FR homepage for FR member use; its use in the News Forum should not be for trivial or inconsequential posts. Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from the list.)
(For ABQ Journal articles requiring a subscription, you may be allowed a number of free article views.)

[linMcHlp]

bttt

[rigelkentaurus]

Therefore, in NM there is a $24k/yr incentive for every juvenile to become a violent offender and get got, once. Much easier than finding and working at a job.

[Ronald77]

It really is a matter of whose pocket the money is going into, violent juvenile offenders or democratic politicians.

[Tammy8]

Not just crazy, all the way to insane.

On top of all the obvious reasons this is a really bad idea... what kind of message does this send to kids that behave, get good grades, have a job? No plan to pay them.

[Pontiac]

It really is a matter of whose pocket the money is going into, violent juvenile offenders or democratic politicians.

That is the real question

Who exactly is the check going to be written to?

I can’t believe that the state is going to cut a $2000 check every month to a juvenile delinquent.

Usually these kind of bills set up a scam that juvy judges and rehab companies can milk for millions.

[SuperLuminal]

Sell N.M. to Mexico...

[unlearner]

These teens will never get a $12 per hour (NM minimum wage) full-time job when they can get the same amount of money haded to them for doing nothing other than crime.

[A_perfect_lady]

You know... I’d support it as long as they only commit violent crimes against Democrats. I mean, Democrats voted for this, so they should be okay with it too.

[LegendHasIt]

I guess I could get violent, but I reckon I’m WAY too old to get in on this ‘gravy train’, Darn it.

Those people in Santa Fe are insane.

[Some Fat Guy in L.A.]

OK - scratching NM off my possible retirement residence list then.

[Zathras]

NM has had me interested as a final place to retire but nope....
Thanks for keeping us all updated about NM!

[silverleaf]

Well, this didnt age well

[CedarDave]

Well, this didnt age well

Indeed, it didn't. HB-255 died on the Senate floor Friday night, even though the "Homicide Scholarship" provision had been removed. See this thread:

NM lawmaker whose son was murdered rips Dems for ‘homicide scholarships’ after her crime bill was tanked