# Mexican legislative proposals for environmental crimes > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/mexican-legislative-proposals-for-environmental-crimes > Updated: 2026-09-23T22:45:43.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2. Legislative efforts are underway in Mexico to strengthen environmental protections through criminal penalties. In a federal proposal, Deputy Verónica Martínez García has sought to criminalize ecocide by adding provisions to the Federal Penal Code. This initiative would impose prison sentences of 15 to 30 years and significant fines for actions causing “grave, extensive, or irreversible damage to ecosystems, biodiversity, or environmental services.” At the state level, Arleth Grimaldo Osorio, a deputy in the State of Mexico, has proposed reforms to classify intentional forest fires as serious crimes. Her initiative suggests prison terms of 10 to 15 years for arsonists, particularly within Protected Natural Areas, and 15 to 20 years for public officials who facilitate illegal land-use changes in burned forests. These state-level proposals aim to prevent the use of fire as a tool for economic interests, such as converting forests into commercial developments. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-23: State of Mexico deputy proposes prison terms for forest fires A Morena deputy in the State of Mexico has proposed prison sentences of up to 15 years for intentional forest fires and up to 20 years for officials facilitating illegal land-use changes. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/state-of-mexico-deputy-proposes-prison-terms-for-forest-fires ### 2026-09-21: Verónica Martínez proposes criminalizing ecocide in Mexico Mexican Deputy Verónica Martínez García has proposed criminalizing ecocide with prison terms of up to 30 years to protect biodiversity and ecosystems from irreversible damage. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mexico-legislator-proposes-prison-terms-for-ecocide --- Cite as: Mexican legislative proposals for environmental crimes. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/mexican-legislative-proposals-for-environmental-crimes