New Mexico HB334: COMPETENCY OF CHILDREN

What the bill says

An act relating to children; providing that a report of competency evaluation shall include a qualified professional's opinion as to whether a child is competent for adjudication and if, in the opinion of the professional, the child is not competent, to include an opinion as to whether the child satisfies the criteria for involuntary placement; providing for communitybased competency restoration for nondangerous children; providing a list of crimes for which a child may be criminally committed…

From the introduced text, February 4, 2026:

AN ACT RELATING TO CHILDREN; PROVIDING THAT A REPORT OF COMPETENCY EVALUATION SHALL INCLUDE A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL'S OPINION AS TO WHETHER A CHILD IS COMPETENT FOR ADJUDICATION AND IF, IN THE OPINION OF THE PROFESSIONAL, THE CHILD IS NOT COMPETENT, TO INCLUDE AN OPINION AS TO WHETHER THE CHILD SATISFIES THE CRITERIA FOR INVOLUNTARY PLACEMENT; PROVIDING FOR COMMUNITYBASED COMPETENCY RESTORATION FOR NONDANGEROUS CHILDREN; PROVIDING A LIST OF CRIMES FOR WHICH A CHILD MAY BE CRIMINALLY COMMITTED; PROVIDING THAT WITHIN NINETY DAYS AFTER THE COURT ISSUES AN ORDER FOR INVOLUNTARY PLACEMENT OR COMMITMENT, THE COURT SHALL CONDUCT A REVIEW HEARING TO DETERMINE COMPETENCY; PROVIDING THAT A COURT MAY HOLD A CRIMINAL COMMITMENT HEARING IF THE CHILDREN'S COURT DETERMINES THAT THERE IS NOT A SUBSTANTIAL PROBABILITY THAT THE CHILD WILL BE RESTORED TO COMPETENCY; ALLOWING A COURT TO AUTHORIZE A CHILDREN'S COURT .232985.2 wen = lairetam derocsrednu eteled = ]lairetam detekcarb[ ATTORNEY OF THE CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES DEPARTMENT TO USE THE REPORT; PROVIDING THAT THE CHILDREN'S COURT SHALL HOLD A HEARING TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE CHILD IS NOT COMPETENT DUE TO A DEVELOPMENTAL OR INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO: SECTION 1. Section 32A-2-21 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1993, Chapter 77, Section 50, as amended) is amended to read: "32A-2-21. DISPOSITION OF A …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Andrea Reeb (R, HD-064) · primary sponsor
• Nicole Chavez (R, HD-031)
• Alan T. Martinez (R, HD-023)

Latest actions

1. February 4, 2026: Not Printed
2. : Action Postponed Indefinitely

Common questions

What is HB334?

HB334 is a bill in the New Mexico Legislature (2026 Regular Session): COMPETENCY OF CHILDREN.

What does HB334 do?

In its own words: An act relating to children; providing that a report of competency evaluation shall include a qualified professional's opinion as to whether a child is competent for adjudication and if, in the opinion of the professional, the child is not competent, to include an opinion as to whether the child satisfies the criteria for involuntary placement; providing for communitybased competency restoration for nondangerous children; providing a list of crimes for which a child may be criminally committed…

What is the status of HB334?

Failed as of February 4, 2026. Latest action: Not Printed (February 4, 2026).

Who sponsored HB334?

Andrea Reeb (R, HD-064), with 2 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for HB334?

On the New Mexico Legislature website: https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=H&legType=B&legNo=334&year=26