We are thrilled to share that on March 6, thanks to the quick action of advocates like you, the New Mexico Senate passed Senate Bill 70, adding the crimes of dog fighting and cockfighting (among other crimes) to New Mexico’s Racketeering Act.
The bill, brought by Senator Craig Brandt (SD 40), aims to strengthen New Mexico’s anti-racketeering law and crack down on organized animal fighting by allowing prosecutors to seek stronger penalties, including the seizure of assets—such as vehicles, trailers, equipment, and financial accounts—that are used or acquired as part of their crimes.
These changes to the Racketeering Act are critical because:
- animal fighting rings are often part of larger criminal enterprises that are engaged in drug and arms trafficking, human trafficking, money laundering, and other illegal activities; and
- seizing assets is a critical tool needed to disrupt and dismantle the organized crime syndicates that torture and kill animals, amongst their other crimes, for profit.
Senate Bill 70’s path through the legislative session so far has had ups and downs and hard-fought wins. The bill was first heard over a month ago in the Senate Judiciary Committee. It didn’t receive a vote at that time in that committee due to requested changes to the bill by committee members. It then came back for another hearing by the Senate Judiciary Committee as a substitute bill—which removed portions of the bill, but still retained the pieces related to animal fighting—on March 1, where it was voted on and passed by a vote of 8-0.
Next, the bill moved to the Senate Finance Committee. In this committee, we were disappointed that the bill was amended to remove cockfighting as a racketeering offense, which appeared to be due to a misunderstanding about whether the crime was qualified to be added to the Racketeering Act. After amendment, it passed this committee by a vote of 10-0.
The bill was then slated for a Senate floor vote.
But we knew it was a mistake to exclude cockfighting from the Racketeering Act, and we called on you to make your voice heard.
That’s when you, our supporters, sprang into action. Early on Thursday morning, March 6, we asked you to speak up for the dogs and roosters who are so cruelly used and killed by animal fighting rings. And your voice was heard. When Senate Bill 70 came to the Senate floor, Senator Jeff Steinborn (SD 36) introduced an amendment to add cockfighting back into the bill. SB 70’s sponsor, Senator Brandt, supported this amendment. And the Senate Majority Floor Leader, Peter Wirth (SD 25), spoke in strong support of the amendment on the floor. Gratefully, the Senate voted to adopt the amendment—re-incorporating cockfighting as a racketeering offense—by an overwhelming majority. The amended bill then passed by a unanimous vote of 38-0!
We are so thankful to the bill’s sponsor, Senator Brandt, for doggedly working with us to ensure both dog fighting and cockfighting were added to the list of crimes under the Racketeering Act and to Senator Steinborn for courageously bringing the amendment to the Senate chamber. Thank you to all the New Mexico Senators who voted YES in support of this bill to make animals and communities safer. And huge thanks to our supporters for sending emails and speaking up for this bill.
What’s next for Senate Bill 70? It has moved over to the House, where it will have to be approved by two more committees before it can go to the full House for a vote. The first step will be a hearing in the House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs Committee. With little over two weeks remaining in the legislative session, we are working practically round the clock to see this and our other bills to the finish line. Stay with us—we can’t do it without you.
