The bill amends Section 30-25-1 of the New Mexico Statutes to redefine the parameters of perjury. It establishes that knowingly making a false statement in a legislative proceeding constitutes perjury, regardless of whether the statement is made under oath, affirmation, or penalty of perjury. The new language specifies that perjury can occur in any official proceeding, including legislative hearings, and clarifies that this applies to statements made by individuals who have been requested to testify on matters relevant to those proceedings.

Additionally, the bill includes a provision that exempts statements made by members of the public during designated public comment periods at legislative hearings from being classified as perjury. This amendment aims to enhance the integrity of legislative processes by holding individuals accountable for false statements while also protecting the rights of the public to express their views without fear of legal repercussions.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 30-25-1