Linda, SB13 is Wednesday. Here the scoop on more legislation-most are good, but HB258 is ugly! 





NMRCRC- Weekly Legislative Updates Bill Updates SB13- Reproductive Health Provider Protections SB13 will have its first hearing on Wednesday, February 22nd at 1:30 pm in the Senate House and Public Affairs Committee. This bill protects reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare providers from criminal liability or professional disciplinary action. You are welcome to join us in Santa Fe at the Roundhouse (490 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 8750) in committee room 311. Keep in mind the committee chair has limited the time for speakers. We are working with our partners to prioritize the testimony of those who would be most impacted. The best way to show your support is with your presence. Click the link below to email the SHPAC to show your support for SB13. Email the SHPA Committee HB258- Crime of Providing Abortions HB 258- Crime of Providing Abortions is scheduled to be heard on Monday, February 20th at 8:30am in the House Health and Human Services Committee. This bill criminalizes healthcare professionals for providing abortion care for their patients. Rev. Bethany Meier-Evans On HB258 "As a faith rooted organization, we know that many people of different faith backgrounds believe that abortion should remain safe and legal in the state of New Mexico.  Once someone has made the decision to have an abortion, they require access to medical care from supportive and skilled medical professionals. Restricting these health care providers from performing abortions forces pregnant people to make decisions that are less safe for themselves and their families.              Attacking abortion providers harms our communities by cutting off access to healthcare for those who need it. House Bill 258 is an attack on the medical professionals who can help pregnant people take ownership and agency over their own lives and bodies. These medical professionals need to have support to do their work and to do it without fear of persecution or prosecution." -Rev. Bethany Meier-Evans, Clergy and Congregational Advocacy Organizer for New Mexico Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. House Bill 7- Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Health Care Freedom Act HB7 - Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Health Care Freedom Act may be considered by the House of Representatives tis week. We will provide you with an update as soon as possible. HB7 prohibits public bodies, including local municipalities, from denying, restricting or discriminating against an individual’s right to use or refuse reproductive or gender affirming care. Senate Bill 11-Paid Family Medical Leave Act (PFML) SB11-PFML passed with a 6-2 vote on Thursday, February 9th in the Senate Tax, Business and Transportation (STBT) Committee. It will be heard in the Senate Finance Committee next. We will provide you with an update when the hearing is scheduled. PFML is a program designated to help people in New Mexico take paid time off of work for family or medical reasons. PFML could be used for the purpose of bonding with a new child, caring for a family member with a serious medical condition, an employee’s own serious medical condition, exigencies arising out of a family member being on active-duty military service, leave necessary due to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, and bereavement. PFML provides a percentage of their regular pay to employees while they're on leave. PFML would be funded through employer and employee contributions held in a trust fund administered through the Department of Workforce Solutions. House Bill 43- Affirmative Consent Policy in Schools House Bill 43-Affirmative Consent Policy in Schools unanimously passed the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday, February 15th. Thank you for all your support! This bill requires public schools and public and private post-secondary educational institutions to adopt policies and procedures addressing affirmative consent and prevention of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, harassment and stalking: amending the public code to include a requirement to set affirmative consent as the standard for sexual activity. House Bill 134- Menstrual Products in School Bathrooms House Bill 134- Menstrual Products in School Bathrooms has not been scheduled for the House Appropriations Committee yet. We will provide an update as soon as possible. HB134 would require the Public Education Department to provide menstrual products in school bathrooms at no cost to students. HB51- Prescription Drug Affordability Board Act HB51 had its first committee hearing on Monday, February 13th in the House Health and Human Services Committee. It passed with a 7-3 vote! HB51 holds drug companies accountable and incentivize lower prices for prescription drugs. HB400- State-Administered Health Coverage Plan (Medicaid Forward) HB400 was introduced on Monday, February 13th. It was assigned to the House Health & Human Services Committee and the House Appropriations & Finance Committee. We will keep you updated when the bill is scheduled for its first committee hearing. Medicaid Forward would open Medicaid so every resident has access to affordable care. It would allow residents whose income is too high to qualify for Medicaid to purchase an affordable plan through the program. Senate Bill 7-Rural Health Care Delivery Fund SB7-Rural Health Care Delivery has not been scheduled for the Senate Finance Committee yet, its last assigned panel before reaching full senate. We will provide an update as soon as possible. SB7 would provide grants to rural health care providers and facilities that provide new or expanded health care services. These grants would help defer the costs related to building new health care clinics or hospitals in rural parts of New Mexico, giving New Mexicans access to hospitals and emergency services without having to drive for hours. Lobby Day Our Lobby Day alongside Catholics for Choice was a success! We spoke to legislators at the roundhouse about the importance of reproductive care for all. Thank you to all of you who joined us and advocated with us! And thank you Catholics for Choice for working with us and being committed to supporting New Mexico in safeguarding abortion access. Learn more about Catholics for Choice: For 50 years, Catholics for Choice has worked at the intersection of Christianity and reproductive freedom, fighting as people of faith to ensure all may have access to safe and affordable reproductive healthcare services. By infusing our core values into educational resources, public policy, community life, and Catholic social thinking and teaching, Catholics for Choice has emerged as a trusted voice in the faithful, pro-choice movement. Catholics for Choice  Faith Leaders all Over New Mexico Show their Support for Abortion in an Open Letter On Wednesday, February 15th NMRCRC and Catholics for Choice showcased a letter of support for reproductive freedom from faith leaders all over New Mexico in a press conference at the roundhouse. Click the links below for the full letter and the press conference. Full Letter Press Conference Visit our Website New Mexico Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice Address: PO Box 66433, Albuquerque, NM 87193 Phone: 505-890-1010 Patient Helpline: 1-505-398-1010 Fax: 505-890-4573 Email: info@nmrcrc.org    We Believe | Contact Us

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