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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Harden
DATE TYPED 02/28/05 HB
SHORT TITLE Abuse of Tort Law Against Firearm Industry
SB SM 23
ANALYST Ford
APPROPRIATION
Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY05
FY06
FY05
FY06
NFI
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Duplicates
HM 9
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Responses Received From
Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC)
Attorney General (AGO)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
Senate Memorial 23 calls upon the New Mexico Congressional delegation to support the end of
the abuse of tort laws against the firearms industry.
Significant Issues
The United States Congress is currently considering several pieces of legislation that would pre-
empt state law and limit lawsuits brought by individuals against firearms manufacturers, distribu-
tors, dealers, and importers.
CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP
Senate Memorial 23 duplicates House Memorial 9.
pg_0002
Senate Memorial 23 -- Page 2
OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES
New Mexico is one of 21 states that allows individuals as well as local governments to bring
lawsuits against firearms manufacturers, distributors, dealers, and importers.
Twelve states prohibit local governments from bringing such lawsuits but allow individuals to
bring lawsuits. Seventeen states prohibit lawsuits brought by both individuals and local govern-
ments.
EF/lg