Liberty and Justice Coalition

Final Legislative Update

March 31, 2021 fdarn

We apologize in that this final update took longer than we would have liked. The New Mexico Legislature adjourned on March 20th. None of the priority bills we were tracking actually made it to the finish line. HB 56: Our number one priority was to defeat HB 56, and we are happy to report that it did not pass. HB 56 is the SORNA and human trafficking proposal. The bill contained a provision that would have required registrants who simply own property located in New Mexico to register. The…

Jacob Wetterling’s mother urges reforming the registry

March 25, 2021 Admin

The Free Press, Mankato, Minn. Patty Wetterling lost a son to the actions of a sex offender. But she now has misgivings about a sex offender registry she helped create. Wetterling’s son Jacob was abducted and killed in 1989 in central Minnesota by an area man. After Jacob’s disappearance, Wetterling worked to establish a sex offender registry that would help…

Legislative Update #7

March 15, 2021 Admin

The New Mexico Legislature will adjourn at noon on Saturday. At this point, none of the bills we are tracking have moved to the finish line. LJC Opposes HB 56: Our number one priority is defeating HB 56 which is the SORNA and Human Trafficking proposal. Much of the proposal centers on hype about Jeffrey Epstein and the fact that even…

Who bears the burden of proof in a criminal case?

March 12, 2021 Admin

By Larry . . . NARSOL is excited to announce the filing of an amicus brief in the United States Supreme Court in support of Stephen May’s Petition for a Writ of Certiorari. It is important to understand that the Supreme Court declines to hear most cases in which review is sought, which means all petitioners face very long odds. As a…

Legislative Update #6

March 9, 2021March 9, 2021 Admin

Since our last update, none of the bills we are tracking have moved to the finish line. LJC is working diligently to make certain that House Bill 56, the SORNA overhaul bill, does not pass the Senate. More notably, House Bill 201, the early probation release bill, has passed the House with broad bipartisan support. House Bill 56 – Oppose…

Legislative Update #5

February 27, 2021 fdarn

Several House bills have crossed over into the Senate. LJC is vehemently opposed to some, most notably, House Bill 56. This is the mammoth SORNA and human trafficking overhaul. As expected, the legislation passed the House near unanimously. In addition, House Bill 74 which we reported on last week passed despite significant Republican opposition. HB 74 would restore voting rights…

NARSOL conference 2021 on the horizon

February 19, 2021 Admin

By Robin . . . Out of an abundance of caution and consideration for your health and safety, the national conference has been rescheduled for October 8-10, 2021. The theme and location for the conference will not change, and we are excited about the line-up of speakers and presenters who have already committed to be with us in Houston, Texas this…

Awesome victory in Tennessee

February 19, 2021 Admin

By Larry . . . After years of legal wrangling, there has been a favorable decision in an important case in Tennessee. The case was initiated on November 8, 2016, along with a motion for a protective order. At that time the governor of Tennessee was named William Haslam, so he was the defendant in his official capacity along with the…

COVID-19 deaths rise at California state hospital

February 18, 2021 Admin

By Nadia Lopez . . . A spike in coronavirus-related deaths at a state-run psychiatric hospital in Fresno County has angered and alarmed patients, who blame hospital staff for a massive outbreak that infected hundreds and killed more than a dozen patients over the past six months. One patient who spoke with The Bee said he struggled to bring attention to the…

2021 Legislative update #4

February 18, 2021 Admin

The past week has been eventful for the bills we have been tracking. The biggest change is House Bill 56 making it through the committee process and is now on the House Calendar awaiting final passage. Unfortunately, that bill made it past the House Judiciary Committee after the House Appropriation and Finance Committee referral was withdrawn. That is a sign…