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HB 197NEW MEXICOSession 2026State Billdead

Did Not Advance

New Mexico HB 197 increases penalties for stealing firearms valued under $2,500

Original title: INCREASE PENALTY FOR LARCENY OF FIREARM

Last action · January 28, 2026: Sent to HCPAC - Referrals: HCPAC/HJCSponsor: Andi Reeb

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

House Bill 197 reclassifies the of a firearm valued under $2,500 from a fourth-degree felony to a third-degree felony.

Why it matters

Increases the severity of criminal charges and potential prison sentences for individuals convicted of stealing lower-value firearms in New Mexico.

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Individuals prosecuted for firearm theft in New Mexico

Individuals who commit larceny of a firearm valued under $2,500 face increased felony classification levels and harsher potential legal consequences.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does House Bill 197 change about firearm theft?

It increases the penalty for stealing a firearm worth less than $2,500 from a fourth-degree felony to a third-degree felony.

Does the bill change the penalty for stealing firearms worth more than $2,500?

The text modifies the penalty specifically for firearms valued at less than $2,500 by changing it from a fourth-degree felony to a third-degree felony.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

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Votes, people, money & the original source

Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.

Procedural history

1 action

Jan 28, 2026HouseCommittee
Sent to HCPAC - Referrals: HCPAC/HJC

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Connected Entities

Andi Reeb, State of New Mexico

PersonAndi Reeb“Introduced House Bill 197”Map →

locationState of New Mexico“Legislative jurisdiction”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.nmlegis.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance20
Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 60)
Controversy45
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz20
Current news / social attention level

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