New Mexico 2025 Regular Session Status: In Committee 1 D cosponsors

SB 505 — LAW ENFORCEMENT USE OF BODY CAMERAS

Last action — action postponed indefinitely

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2025 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

46 added · 42 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of Bill SB 505 includes a crucial change that mandates peace officers to operate body-worn cameras, with the added consequence of being presumed to have acted in bad faith if they fail to comply. This strengthens accountability by ensuring that officers who do not follow these procedures face significant legal consequences for intentionally damaging evidence. It highlights the importance of transparency in law enforcement practices, aiming to build trust and uphold the integrity of investigations.

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SENATE BILL 505 57TH LEGISLATURE -STATEOFNEWMEXICO- FIRST SESSION, 2025 INTRODUCED BY Joseph Cervantes 6 8 10 AN ACT RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT;
SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL 505 57TH LEGISLATURE -STATEOFNEWMEXICO- FIRST SESSION, 2025 4 6 8 10 AN ACT RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT;
A law enforcement agency shall require peace .229187.2 officers the agency employs and who routinely interact with the public to wear a body-worn camera while on duty, except as provided in Subsection B of this section.
A law enforcement agency shall require peace .231473.1 SJC/SB 505 officers the agency employs and who routinely interact with the public to wear a body-worn camera while on duty, except as provided in Subsection B of this section.
= = 19 a l (a) fail to operate a body-worn camera i a e r 20 in accordance with law enforcement agency policies;
= = 19 (a) fail to operate a body-worn camera a l i a e r 20 in accordance with law enforcement agency policies;
The provisions of Subsection A of this section .229187.2 - 2 - shall not apply when a peace officer:
The provisions of Subsection A of this section .231473.1 - 2 - SJC/SB 505 shall not apply when a peace officer:
Peace officers who fail to comply with the policies and procedures required to be adopted pursuant to Subsection A of this section [may] shall be presumed to have acted in bad faith and [may] shall be deemed liable for the independent tort of negligent spoliation of evidence or the independent tort of intentional spoliation of evidence.
Peace officers who knowingly or intentionally fail to comply with the policies and procedures required to be adopted pursuant to Subsection A of this section [may] shall be presumed to have acted in bad faith and [may] shall be deemed liable for [the independent tort of negligent spoliation of evidence or the independent tort of] intentional spoliation of evidence.
(1) "body-worn camera" means an electronic device worn on a person's body that records both audio and video data;
(1) "body-worn camera" means an electronic device worn on a person's body that records both audio and e t 17 video data;
e t 17 (2) "law enforcement agency" means the police w l n d 18 department of a municipality, the sheriff's office of a county, = = 19 a l the New Mexico state police, the police department of a public i a e r 20 post-secondary educational institution or the department of a t m m 21 public safety;
w l n d 18 (2) "law enforcement agency" means the police = = 19 department of a municipality, the sheriff's office of a county, a l i a e r 20 the New Mexico state police, the police department of a public a t m m 21 post-secondary educational institution or the department of d r e 22 public safety;
d r e 22 (3) "peace officer" means any full-time c e s k 23 salaried or certified part-time salaried officer who by virtue e a n b 24 of office or public employment is vested by law with the duty u [ to maintain the public peace;
c e s k 23 (3) "peace officer" means any full-time e a n b 24 salaried or certified part-time salaried officer who by virtue u [ of office or public employment is vested by law with the duty .231473.1 - 3 - SJC/SB 505 to maintain the public peace;
and .229187.2 - 3 - (4) "undercover operation" means an operation that:
and (4) "undercover operation" means an operation that:
and (c) is designed to either obtain information about criminal activity of individuals or organizations through the development of ongoing relationships with individuals or organizations or to effect an arrest." - 4 - 15 e t 17 w l n d 18 = = 19 a l i a e r 20 a t m m 21 d r e 22 c e s k 23 e a n b 24 u [ .229187.2
and (c) is designed to either obtain information about criminal activity of individuals or organizations through the development of ongoing relationships with individuals or organizations or to effect an arrest." - 4 - 16 e t 17 w l n d 18 = = 19 a l i a e r 20 a t m m 21 d r e 22 c e s k 23 e a n b 24 u [ .231473.1
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How this bill changes current law

3 changes Share ↗

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill strengthens the presumption of bad faith for peace officers who fail to comply with body-worn camera policies and expands the definition of law enforcement agency.

  • 29-1-18

    may → shall

    Peace officers who knowingly or intentionally fail to comply with body-worn camera policies are now required to be presumed to have acted in bad faith.

  • 29-1-18

    [the independent tort of negligent spoliation of evidence or the independent tort of] → intentional spoliation of

    The bill removes the reference to negligent spoliation and clarifies that noncompliance relates to intentional spoliation of evidence.

  • 29-1-18

    the police department of a public post-secondary educational institution

    The definition of 'law enforcement agency' now includes police departments of public post-secondary educational institutions.

Action History

  1. action postponed indefinitely

  2. DO NOT PASS, replaced with committee substitute

  3. DO PASS, as amended, committee report adopted

  4. Sent to Senate Rules Committee & Senate Judiciary Committee

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 111 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (111)

111 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 505?
SB 505 is sponsored by Joseph Cervantes (Democrat).
What is the current status of SB 505?
This bill died with 2025 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 505?
Track SB 505 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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