Governor Michelle Lujan-Grisham visited Alamogordo on Wednesday for a town hall discussion focused on crime and safety in New Mexico, ahead of the upcoming legislative session. The governor was joined by local officials, including Mayor Susan Payne, and addressed concerns from residents regarding public safety.
During her visit, Lujan-Grisham emphasized the need for increased mental health resources in the state and highlighted a proposed reform to New Mexico’s criminal competency laws. The reform aims to prevent the release of potentially dangerous individuals who have been declared incompetent after being arrested.
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“This is a significant risk and a major contributor to crime in our communities,” Lujan-Grisham said. “It is especially painful for the families and community here who have lost two officers needlessly in the line of duty at the hands of felons in possession of firearms who should have been incarcerated.”
Lujan-Grisham’s fiscal year 2026 budget proposal includes nearly $581 million for public safety, which includes a 6.4% increase in funding for the New Mexico Department of Public Safety. The legislative session is set to begin on January 21.
