Bill > SB41

This bill eliminates the statute of limitations, which is the legal time limit for starting a prosecution, for certain serious sex crimes in New Mexico. Previously, there were time limits for prosecuting most crimes, with longer limits for more serious offenses like felonies and shorter limits for misdemeanors. However, this bill amends existing laws to remove these time limits for specific crimes, including capital felonies, first-degree violent felonies, second-degree murder, and importantly, second-degree criminal sexual contact of a minor and second-degree criminal sexual penetration. The bill also makes conforming amendments to related statutes that deal with the "tolling" of statutes of limitations, which means pausing or extending the time limit, particularly in cases involving offenses against children or when DNA evidence is available.