Yesterday, the New Mexico Senate Judiciary Committee voted 6-5 in support of HB 285, the bill that repeals New Mexico’s death penalty. This is the committee that, in the past, has killed death penalty abolition, so in advancing to the full Senate, this bill has gone farther than it ever has before.
It now only remains for the full Senate to vote (possibly this week) and then for New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson to sign the legislation into law. Governor Richardson has expressed at least a willingness to sign the bill, but he could always use your encouragement.
New Mexico’s legislative session ends next Saturday (March 21), so whatever happens now will happen quickly.