New Mexico on Wednesday ended qualified immunity, allowing residents to take legal action more easily against government employees, including police officers.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, signed the New Mexico Civil Rights Act guaranteeing that no public official “shall enjoy the defense of qualified immunity for causing the deprivation of any rights, privileges or immunities secured by the constitution of” her state. The legislation cleared the House in mid-February by a 39-29 vote, and it passed the Senate by a 26-15 margin in March.