Day 21, Monday, February 6, 2023

In 1967 the New Mexico State Legislature passed legislation making abortion illegal in the state.  In 2020, amidst the COVID lockdown, that same body dissolved that legislation leaving abortion in the state unregulated.  Fast forward to today, New Mexico’s Governor has vowed to “codify,” that is make legal, abortion in the state.

To make sure nothing gets in the way of an abortion HB 7 Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Health Care Freedom Act has been proposed.  The act makes it a criminal offense punishable by a $5,000 fine for anyone receiving a government paycheck to “deny, restrict or interfere, with another person getting an abortion, gender-blocking chemicals, mastectomy, or castration.

In other words, if a 15-year-old tell his teacher he wanted to be a girl and wants to be castrated, the teacher is disallowed counseling that student.

In 2020 there was no real debate regarding the abortion bill.  Republicans offered amendment after amendment to the bill, such things as protection of conscience and protection of children.  The conversation was one-sided.  The Democrat sponsors made no concessions and refused all amendments.  Abortion is now unregulated in New Mexico.

In last week’s “debate” regarding HB 7, Republicans pointed out how egregious the bill is.  Their comments fell on deaf ears.  No attempt to support the bill was made by the Democrat Representatives.  HB 7 passed on a party-line vote of 7 to 2.

Committee agendas are published online at the beginning of the week.  Interestingly, HB 7 was not published but was heard by the committee without public notice.

HB 7 will next be heard by the House Judiciary Committee.  HB 7 does not appear on the published public schedule.

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