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IT'S OVER! RECAP of Legislative Session WINS and MISSES

  • Writer: Sarah Smith
    Sarah Smith
  • 23 minutes ago
  • 3 min read

Dear New Mexicans,

The 2026 legislative session ended today. THANKS to all who participated by emailing, calling, and making public comments during the hearings. 

THANKS to the many Republican and few Democrat legislators who stood up for the rights and livelihoods of New Mexicans!

We'd also like to give a special THANKS to Better Together New Mexico, including Carla Sonntag and Larry Sonntag, who facilitated pulling together the numerous quick-and-easy calls to action put together by leaders from across the state. Together, we all made a difference!


There were 812 pieces of legislation introduced. Below is a recap of what happened with some of the Bills you may be most concerned about. 

Many of the Bills that passed still need to be signed into law by Governor Lujan Grisham in order to take effect.



2026 Legislative Session Run-Down


HB9 BILL TO CLOSE ICE FACILITIES - PASSED

House Bill 9, the Immigrant Safety Act, does not protect victims of violent crime. Instead, it shields illegal criminals by restricting cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities—even after violent crimes have been committed. At the same time, it effectively shuts down federal detention contracts in New Mexico, putting hundreds—potentially thousands—of good-paying jobs at risk in rural counties that host ICE detention facilities. These facilities are among the largest employers in counties such as Otero, Cibola, and Torrance.



CRIME BILLS - MOSTLY FAILED

Despite promises to focus on crime, the legislature did not do enough to address it. 

  • Progressive legislators FAILED to pass bills that would have helped in stopping the catch-and-release of repeat offenders, increased penalties for second degree murder, increased penalties for stealing firearms and more.   

     

  • The legislature also FAILED to pass a meaningful Bill related to addressing juvenile crime, even though this is one of the main needs for our state. 

     

  • A good crime Bill that was PASSED was HB61, which increases the charges for aggravated battery (great bodily harm) on police officers.


GREAT NEWS! HEALTHCARE - SIGNIFICANT WINS!

  • Interstate medical compacts Bill SB1 was PASSED and will make it easier for doctors for doctors licensed in other states to practice in New Mexico.

     

  • Medical malpractice reform Bill HB99 was PASSED and will help to fix NM's healthcare crisis by making it more affordable for doctors to do business here. 



GREAT NEWS! FAILED PROGRESSIVE AGENDA INITIATIVES

Thankfully, the following Bills failed!

  • SB70 Universal Basic Income Bill 

     

  • SB76 and SB185 which would have increased gas taxes 

     

  • HJR3 which would have given more rights to the environment than to the citizens of the state

     

  • SB 18 Clear Horizons and Emissions Codification was a radical Green New Deal Bill that would have: 1) Increased utility prices; 2) Harmed current businesses; 3) Slowed investment and reduced New Mexico's competitiveness; 4) Devastated the oil and gas industry, which provides 40% of the state budget.  This Bill came very close to passing! Voting against this Bill took courage and commitment to constituents. You can send a quick-and-easy THANK YOU email to those who voted against it here: https://app.oneclickpolitics.com/campaign-page?cid=UkfTKgvsXWZr1xV4gmsx1



GREAT NEWS! GUN RIGHTS ATTACKS - FAILED

  • SB17, which would have outlawed the sale of semi-automatic weapons with detachable magazines and weapons with fixed magazine that could hold more than 10 rounds, has FAILED! 

     

  • SB261, which would have outlawed concealed carry of firearms at voting locations, FAILED. 


GREAT NEWS!  "FREEDOM TO READ" PORN IN SCHOOLS BILLS - FAILED

  • The Bill aimed at making it harder to remove age-inappropriate sexually explicit and violent content from schools FAILED! 


GREAT NEWS!  HB156 VACCINE BILL SUCCESSFULLY AMENDED

  • HB156 vaccine Bill was SUCCESSFULLY amended by Representative John Block to remove the woke American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) as an organization that the Dept of Health (DOH) would refer to for guidance.


  • This was a big step in the right direction, given that the Federal CDC has recently reduced the number of recommended vaccinations for all children from 18 to 11, yet the AAP has refused to make any changes to their list of recommended vaccinations.


  • Based on AAP recommendations, the NM Dept of Health is currently mandating 3 childhood vaccinations that the Federal CDC no longer recommends (Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Meningococcal). All three of these vaccines contain aluminum, which is a potent neurotoxin.


  • Because of Representative Block's new amendment to the Bill, we will now be able to push for much-needed changes to this with the NM Dept of Health.




Overall, the legislative session had some significant wins! Let's keep this momentum building by shifting the balance of power away from the Progressives in the November elections. Thank you all again!


Donations to support our work are gratefully accepted here: 

 

Standing with you for freedom and liberty in New Mexico,

Sarah, Melanie, and Karen

New Mexico Freedoms Alliance

National Coalition for Health Integrity

 
 
 
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