Legislative Session victories
Bad Bills– All Defeated
Forced Parental Notification (HB 221, Little & SB 361, Baca)
This bill would have forced minors seeking reproductive health care to provide notice to a parent or guardian before accessing that care. We know that over 8% of young people already do this, and so for those who don’t there is probably good reason!
Went before the House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee and was tabled (meaning it was effectively killed) by a 3-2 vote.
20 Week Ban (HB 220, Herrell)
This bill, which was voted down heavily in a 2013 Ballot Initiative in Albuquerque would have banned abortion care later in pregnancy. We know that in New Mexico women and their families make these decisions based on the individual circumstances of their pregnancies and that this one-size-fits-all approach to healthcare will never be acceptable, or healthy for our families.
Went before the House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee and was tabled (meaning it was effectively killed) by a 3-2 vote.
“Born Alive” Bill or “Forced Medical Intervention” (HB 37, Montoya)
This bill was the most egregious attempt to vilify providers and intimidate patients we’ve seen in New Mexico. Based on the false premise that abortion providers don’t take their patient’s safety and health into priority consideration; this bill would have mandated violating patient privacy to inspect proceeding within a providers office. This bill was merely designed to scare patients into thinking that abortion is unsafe, when we know that abortion is one of the safest medical procedures there is.
Went before the House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee and was tabled (meaning it was effectively killed) by a 3-2 vote.
Good Bills– One Passed, Rest Defeated
Pregnant Workers (HB 179, Chasey)
This bill was proposed by our partner organization Southwest Women’s Law Center and was intended to help pregnant women acquire the basic needs for their health during pregnancy, including access to water, restroom breaks, a chair etc.
It passed!! However, the Governor vetoed it after it passed the Legislature.
Contraception Access (HB 284, Armstong)
This bill would put into state law the basic regulations provided by the Affordable Care Act for contraceptive coverage. This bill would have also allowed pharmacists to dispense a one-year prescription for contraception, preventing women in rural areas especially from having to travel long distances to refill their birth control every 3 months.
The bill passed the House, but there was not enough time for it to be heard in the full senate.
Patient Protection (SB 282, Ortiz Y Pino)
This bill would requires physicians and hospitals to provide emergency reproductive health care if medically necessary. This would prevent patients in an emergency situation from having to travel to another hospital because the first one they went to (or only one in their area) is a religiously affiliated hospital that does not provide reproductive health care.
Passed two Senate Committees but didn’t make it to the floor for a vote because the session ended.
Decriminalizing Abortion (HB 473, Ferrary)
This bill would have removed a Pre-Roe vs Wade statutes on New Mexico books that prohibit providing abortions.
It passed its first Committee but did not go further due to timing and the end of the session.
Other Great Updates:
SB 121: Ban on Conversion Therapy for Minors and SB 122: Gender Affirmation on Birth Certificate passed and awaiting the Governor’s signature. These pieces of legislation help protect LGBTQ+ individuals and are a huge victory for that community.
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