When presenting a bill, especially a bill that’s going to cost the government $1.2 million, it’s helpful to throw in some statistics. HB 134 will require every public school to stock free menstrual products. Proponents of the bill came up with a BMC Public Health study that found 20% of students have difficulty affording menstrual products. That number increases to 25% for Hispanic students according to the open-source publication. The bill, devised by 3 Albuquerque teens, received a “Do Pass” from the Senate Education Committee.
HB 4 Voting Rights Protection was passed by the House and is on its way to the Senate. Proponents of the bill described a weeping felon who was brought to tears as the result of being disallowed the chance to vote. In a strategic move, allowing 16-year-olds to vote that was part of last year’s Voting Rights bill was presented as a separate bill and did not survive its first committee hearing.
As we approached the final day, may the lawmakers choose wisely what legislation to advance and what to remain unfinished.