Bill would eliminate statute of limitations for certain sex crimes

[Jim Burton]

https://www.krqe.com/news/politics-gove ... ex-crimes/

It’s a crime with a lasting impact. And often, sex crimes can take years to get reported.

“There’s a lot of times that a 13-year-old is too afraid to come forward. And by the time they’ve gotten the courage up to come forward, the statute of limitations has expired, and there is no justice,” said Kim Stark, Executive Director of Albuquerque SANE Collaborative, which provides 24-7 services to sexual assault and trafficking survivors.

Right now, the statute of limitations for prosecuting sex crimes depends on what the crime was, when it happened, and how old the victim was. “It really is disappointing because then you have to go into the conversation of what does justice look like for you if you’re not able to get justice criminally,” said Stark.

A new bill is aiming to change that.

[Jim Burton]

https://sourcenm.com/2026/02/17/new-mex ... -children/

Just after 1 a.m. on Tuesday, members of the House Judiciary Committee unanimously advanced a bill to remove the time limits for prosecuting criminal sexual contact with children.

Senate Bill 41, sponsored by Sen. Angel Charley (D-Acoma), originally would have removed the statute of limitations for serious sex crimes regardless of age, but was narrowed by a series of amendments in the Senate Judiciary Committee, after members in a Feb. 11 meeting expressed concerns that the law was applied too broadly and would complicate prosecutions and defenses, especially if there was missing or degraded evidence.

Charley told the committee SB41 offers a measure of justice for survivors who experience sexual assault as children, which national statistics report affects at least one in four girls and one in 20 boys.