City receives $13.8M in capital outlay; lawmakers pass behavioral‑health funding and omnibus crime package

Barbara Bencomo, the city’s chief administrative officer, and lobbyist Larry Horan briefed the Las Cruces City Council work session on May 12 about outcomes from the 2025 New Mexico legislative session, including capital‑outlay awards to the city totaling just over $13,800,000 and several statewide bills that affect housing, public safety and behavioral health.

The update matters because state legislation and appropriations determine whether the city can advance capital projects, obtain program funding and rely on statewide policy changes that affect local services. “This year was a 60‑day legislative session, began on January 21, and ended on March 22,” Larry Horan said, summarizing the session timeline and the scale of bills introduced.

Horan described major enacted measures: House Bill 8 — described to the council as an omnibus crime package — included criminal‑competency restoration provisions, changes to civil commitment and additional penalties for fentanyl trafficking and motor‑vehicle theft. Horan also described changes to the state’s extreme‑risk (red‑flag) firearm protection law in House Bill 12 that allow law enforcement to petition for orders and require relinquishment after service.

On behavioral health, Horan said the legislature created a Behavioral Health Trust Fund with a $100,000,000 appropriation and passed the Behavioral Health Reform and…