STATE News:

SANTA FE—This afternoon, the House Judiciary Committee unanimously passed HB 173, a bill sponsored by Rep. Bill Rehm (R-Albuquerque) to combat auto theft in New Mexico.  

HB 173 would create a state Auto Theft Prevention Authority within the Office of the New Mexico Superintendent of Insurance. The authority would seek federal, state, and private philanthropic funding to help prosecutors and local law enforcement agencies prevent, investigate, and prosecute auto thefts in their communities. The proposed authority is modeled after similar efforts in other states such as Colorado.  

“Albuquerque leads all U.S. cities in auto thefts, and New Mexicans are fed up being targets,” Rehm said. “We are all paying the price for this crime in increased insurance rates and in the extra security measures residents are taking to protect their vehicles. This approach has worked in other states, and we owe it to New Mexicans to try it here.”

HB 173 has also been referred to the House Appropriations and Finance Committee.