Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that she will call the Legislature into a special session this summer to address public safety legislation that did not pass during this year’s regular legislative session.

The announcement on Wednesday said that the special session would begin on July 18.

“While we made some progress toward a safer New Mexico during the 30-day day session, we agree that we must do more,” Lujan Grisham said in the press release announcing the special session. “The special session in July will enable us to deliver additional statutory changes that reduce the danger and risk New Mexico communities face every day. The best proposals for making our state safer will be under consideration, and I welcome input from my colleagues in the legislature.”  

Lujan Grisham began speaking about the possibility of a special session just hours after the end of the legislative session.

“I don’t think it’s safe out there,” Lujan Grisham said during her post-session press conference in February. “And until it is safe in every neighborhood, in every city I don’t think any of our jobs are done.”

While a handful of bills addressing public safety passed the legislature this year, many of the governor’s priorities didn’t.

Shortly following the legislative session, House Speaker Javier Martínez, D-Albuquerque, announced a working group to develop public safety policy solutions.

This will be the fifth special session since Lujan Grisham became governor.