New Mexico Governor Undecided on Special Session as Crime Bills Stall

Lujan Grisham says lawmakers need to be 'more serious about crime' as key public safety measures fail to advance

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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As the New Mexico legislative session nears its end, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham told Source NM that it's too early to say if she'll call lawmakers back for a special session to address stalled crime and public safety bills. Several priority measures, including bills to regulate gun dealers and restrict firearm access for those with juvenile felony records, have failed to advance in the final days of the session.

Why it matters

Lujan Grisham has repeatedly expressed frustration with the legislature's inaction on crime bills she deemed important, raising concerns about public safety in the state. The failure of these measures highlights the ongoing political divide over approaches to criminal justice reform, with lawmakers appearing more interested in prevention and rehabilitation than accountability and incarceration.

The details

Senate Bill 17, known as the 'Stop Illegal Gun Trade and Extremely Dangerous Weapons Act,' would have further regulated gun dealers and banned the sale of certain firearms, but is stuck in the House Judiciary Committee. Similarly, House Bill 25, which would temporarily prohibit adults from owning firearms if they committed a felony-level crime as a child, has been repeatedly rescheduled and is unlikely to advance. Lujan Grisham said she is disappointed to see these public safety measures stalled, and expressed frustration with a legislature that does not appear to share her sense of urgency.

  • The New Mexico legislative session is scheduled to adjourn at noon on Thursday, February 20, 2026.

The players

Michelle Lujan Grisham

The current governor of New Mexico, who has repeatedly prioritized crime and public safety measures in her legislative agenda.

Senate Bill 17

A bill that would have further regulated gun dealers and banned the sale of certain firearms in New Mexico.

House Bill 25

A bill that would have temporarily prohibited adults from owning firearms if they committed a felony-level crime as a child, regardless of whether they were tried or sentenced as an adult.

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What they’re saying

“It's a little early. One thing about a special session: I don't believe in calling legislators together to disagree. There has to be a meaningful path forward. I'd like them to be more serious about crime.”

— Michelle Lujan Grisham, Governor of New Mexico (Source NM)

“If you're not out, you aren't committing crimes and potentially harming or murdering people for an additional five years. There is a happy medium here and legislators don't seem to believe that. But I'm going to keep after it.”

— Michelle Lujan Grisham, Governor of New Mexico (Source NM)

What’s next

The New Mexico legislative session is scheduled to adjourn at noon on Thursday, February 20, 2026. If Lujan Grisham decides to call a special session to address the stalled crime and public safety bills, it would likely occur in the weeks or months following the regular session's conclusion.

The takeaway

The failure of key crime and public safety bills in the New Mexico legislature highlights the ongoing political divide over approaches to criminal justice reform, with the governor pushing for more accountability and incarceration while lawmakers appear more focused on prevention and rehabilitation. This impasse raises concerns about public safety in the state and the ability of the legislature and governor to find common ground on these critical issues.