LWVCNM Members,
Please take action now! We only have until January 30th. The Freedom to Read New Mexico Coalition, of which LWVCNM is a member, is still working hard to get three bills added to the 2026 Legislative session. We haven’t been successful, YET. Book Banning and Librarian Protection Legislation still needs our support to be heard by the legislature. My understanding is that the Governor is unsure this is an issue in New Mexico. Well, it is! Right now, anyone can ask for a book to be banned, Librarians are being harassed for doing their jobs, and Authors are being targeted. People are trying to take away your rights and make decisions for you.
To emphasize the sense of urgency you should know that Senator Thorton is currently planning a censorship bill that is ALREADY on the agenda, SB 49. His bill would rate various library materials through the opinion of volunteer parents and community participants... which basically hands librarian rights over their catalog to outsiders who want to see diverse themes, characters, and authors wiped from library shelves.
Our three Legislator champions have urged us to call the Governor’s office and specifically ask if the three Freedom to Read bills will be going on this session's legislative agenda.
Here is the governor's office number: (505) 476-2200. Spread it around and make those calls. Let's flood the phone line.
The bills are
HB26 PROHIBITING BOOK BANNING AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES sponsors Rep. Cates, Rep Caballero, and Sen. Sedillo Lopez
SB45 ACADEMIC LIBRARY MANAGEMENT POLICIES sponsors Sen. Sedillo Lopez, Sen. Pope, and Rep. Cates
SB65 MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOL LIBRARIES sponsors Sen. Sedillo Lopez, Sen. Pope, and Rep. Cates
Another way you can take action is to fill out and submit a form located here - Ask Governor Lujan Grisham to Put Libraries and Free Speech on the Legislative Agenda
Why not do both!
Please pass this on to others. New Mexico needs this legislation. Let's exercise our democratic rights.
Sincerely,
Starlyn Brown, President LWVCNM