Dear New Mexicans, The NM Legislative Session ends on March 18th. Let's keep pushing hard for the next 10 days to limit the damage.
Bad News and Good News
Sorry to say, but HB7 Gender Affirming and Reproductive Care was PASSED by the NM Senate today. This Bill strips municipalities and parents of their rights regarding restricting access to abortion and gender transitioning services.
For example, a school nurse could fined $5000+ if she were seen as “interfering” with access to abortion or gender transitioning services if she were to call a parent regarding the student’s request to obtain these services; thus, bypassing parent involvement and/or awareness. The final step for this Bill will be the Governor's desk.
You can WATCH the full ~3-hour Senate Hearing testimony here, beginning at ~12:24:00 :
https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00293/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20230307/-1/72210
THANK YOU to the 15 Senators who voted against this Bill and especially Senator Gregg Schmedes, Senator William Sharer, Senator Greg Baca, Senator Cliff Pirtle, Senator Mark Moores, Senator David Gallegos, and Senator Stuart Ingle for standing up for the rights of parents, teachers, healthcare providers, and children.
These three Bills have been successfully stopped:
SB171 - This Bill would have banned the purchase and transfer of suppressors, AR pistols, AK pistols, NFA Firearms, coated ammunition, and incendiary ammunition.
HB217 - This Bill would have allowed 16- and 17-year-olds to vote.
HB28 - This Bill would have made minimum wage increase with inflation, hurting small businesses and also resulting in fewer jobs.
Current Calls to Action - Please Complete ALL of These Again
Many Bills have moved to different committees or branches of the legislature, so the legislators' contact info has been updated on these. That means we need you to please complete ALL of these again.
This list will allow to QUICKLY and EASILY take action. Many of these now have an EASY CALL feature built-in after you send the email. Calls are even more effective than emails, so please use that feature as well.
Apologies that this is such a long list! Nonetheless, please do as much as you can! The future of our state is hanging in the balance right now.
URGENT: PASSED IN HOUSE, NOW IN SENATE - OPPOSE: HB4 - Election Changes - It allows convicted felons to vote immediately upon release (even if still on parole). It mandates increased use of drop boxes, and creates a permanent absentee voter list, completely eroding secure and verifiable absentee voting practices. https://oneclickpolitics.global.ssl.fastly.net/messages/edit?promo_id=19087
ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT: PASSED IN SENATE, NOW IN HOUSE - OPPOSE: SB 180 - Election Changes - This would substantially revise New Mexico’s election code including forcing counties to use internet-connected ‘poll books’ at voting locations (with no provision that these be secure, opening the door for potential hacking from outside sources), removing safeguards around having a minor serve on an election board, etc. https://oneclickpolitics.global.ssl.fastly.net/messages/edit?promo_id=19105
ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT - OPPOSE: SB116 - 21 Years Old to Purchase or Possess Firearms - This Bill would criminalize the ownership of firearms for 18-20-year-olds. https://oneclickpolitics.global.ssl.fastly.net/messages/edit?promo_id=19314
ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT - OPPOSE: HB9 - Unlawful Access by Minors to Firearms - https://oneclickpolitics.global.ssl.fastly.net/messages/edit?promo_id=19052
NEW - OPPOSE: HB444 - Dietician and Nutritionist Licensure - This Bill would give extensive new control over nutrition services to a dietician oversight board. They are claiming the exclusive right to provide counseling for certain ailments, with the intent to exclude other qualified practitioners. https://secure.everyaction.com/u__jXSRIy0m2XctrU6jEgg2
NEW - OPPOSE: SB13 - Reproductive Health Provider Protections -Turns NM into a national beacon for abortion & transgender procedures. https://oneclickpolitics.global.ssl.fastly.net/messages/edit?promo_id=19472
NEW - OPPOSE HB263 - Overdose Prevention Program - Would give drug users “safe spaces” where they can do illegal drugs under the supervision of a person who is trained to treat drug overdose. This will further encourage drug use in NM and make our problems worse. https://oneclickpolitics.global.ssl.fastly.net/messages/edit?promo_id=19481
OPPOSE: HB426 - Clean Fuel Standard - Will raise gas prices up to 80 cents per gallon - https://oneclickpolitics.global.ssl.fastly.net/messages/edit?promo_id=19364
OPPOSE: HB101 - Large Capacity Magazines and Assault Weapons - This bans magazines that hold more than 9 rounds (which includes most handguns!), classifies all semi-automatic guns as "assault weapons," allows existing semiautomatic weapons to only be allowed on private property, bans the sale of semi-automatic weapons, and bans the sale of .50 caliber ammunition. https://oneclickpolitics.global.ssl.fastly.net/messages/edit?promo_id=19269
OPPOSE HB100 - 14-Day Waiting Period for Firearm Sales - https://oneclickpolitics.global.ssl.fastly.net/messages/edit?promo_id=19129
OPPOSE HB238: Discharging Firearm in Dense Population Areas - This Bill will criminalize the discharge of a firearm in a “densely populated area” without exception for self-defense, shooting at an indoor shooting range, outdoor shooting range, or other legal use. https://oneclickpolitics.global.ssl.fastly.net/messages/edit?promo_id=19100
OPPOSE: SB218 - Socialized Utility Rates - Low-Income Public Utility Rates: This would force hard-working families struggling to pay their own bills to help pay for others’ utility bills! https://oneclickpolitics.global.ssl.fastly.net/messages/edit?promo_id=19179
OPPOSE: HB25 - Would Raise Minimum Wage to $16/Hour, leading to higher inflation and fewer jobs - https://oneclickpolitics.global.ssl.fastly.net/messages/edit?promo_id=19011
OPPOSE: SB11 - Family Medical Leave Act - https://oneclickpolitics.global.ssl.fastly.net/messages/edit?promo_id=18604
OPPOSE: Abortion Clinic in Las Cruces - https://oneclickpolitics.global.ssl.fastly.net/messages/edit?promo_id=18915
SUPPORT: HB110 - Voter ID Protection - https://oneclickpolitics.global.ssl.fastly.net/messages/edit?promo_id=18916
Your voice matters. Please send this on to like-minded people! Donations to support our work are gratefully accepted here: https://www.givesendgo.com/NMFA ---------------------- Thank you for ACTING NOW for the good of New Mexico, Sarah Smith, Karen Larré, and Melanie Rubin New Mexico Freedoms Alliance National Coalition for Health Integrity