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House Judiciary advances changes to concealed-carry training, penalties and reciprocity
Summary
A House Judiciary Committee voted to give a do-pass recommendation on a Senate bill that reduces concealed-carry training hours, raises penalties for carrying without a permit and clarifies out-of-state license transfers after debate and amendment.
A New Mexico House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday voted to recommend passage of Senate Bill 507, a measure that reduces required concealed-carry training, raises the criminal penalty for carrying without a permit and clarifies how licenses from other states may transfer to New Mexico.
Senator Joseph Cervantes, sponsor of the bill, told the committee he is a concealed-carry permit holder and that the bill aims to “encourage people to have a concealed carry permit” by reducing the initial classroom hours and renewal requirements while increasing penalties so the offense is more consequential.
The proposal would change the offense of carrying a weapon without a concealed-carry license from a petty misdemeanor to a misdemeanor and cut initial training from 15 hours to six hours in the text presented to the committee. Supporters said the shorter course is intended to reduce attrition for otherwise willing applicants; critics said the change risks weakening ongoing legal and range training.
John Folsom, district 7 director of the New Mexico Shooting Sports Association, opposed the bill, saying it could complicate interstate reciprocity and make New Mexico permits less likely to be recognized by other states. “This bill will make it real hard and real complicated for reciprocity,” Folsom said.
Meredith Machin, representing the League of Women Voters of New Mexico and the American Association of University Women, spoke in favor of the bill.
Committee members spent significant time debating the role of refresher and renewal courses. The sponsor and committee negotiated amendments to reinstate some renewal/refresher language the draft initially struck and to preserve a four‑year licensing cycle cited in statute 29-19-3. Members also discussed oversight and certification of private training providers and whether the Department of Public Safety (DPS) should establish uniform course standards by rule.
The committee adopted multiple technical amendments to restore a mid‑license refresher requirement in one form and struck conflicting language elsewhere to clarify the statutory renewal process. After amendment, the committee recorded a do‑pass recommendation on the Senate Judiciary Committee substitute for SB 507, as amended twice.
The vote was recorded as 7 in favor, 3 opposed. The committee recorded the yes votes for Representatives Abeyta, Hoffman, McQueen, Reed, Sapanski, the vice chair and the chair; no votes were recorded for Representatives Chavez, Hall and Martinez.
What’s next: the bill, as amended, will move with the committee recommendation to the full House for further floor action.
