“But a way forward on this issue so many in New Mexico care about,” Romero said. Rep. Linda Serrato, D-Santa Fe, who is the lead sponsor on HB 352, said the private prison population has “skyrocketed” since 2000, even as incarceration rates have declined. According to the Prison Policy Initiative, the numbers of those in local county jails has increased due to more people being arrested for minor crimes and the inability of people to make bail. Rep. Stefani Lord, R-Sandia Park, who voted, along with Rep. Randall Pedigrew, R-Hobbs, against the bill, said she was concerned about the town of Estancia.