[Lwvcnmtopics] REMINDER - LWVCNM Monthly Meeting - Thursday March 12 at Noon - New Mexico’s Legislature: Is It or Is It Not Committed to Transparency?

[LWV CentralNewMexico]

Dear LWVCNM Members,

This is a reminder to please join us *tomorrow, Thursday March 12 at noon*,
for the monthly educational meeting. March is Sunshine Month when we shine
a light on government transparency, or lack thereof. Please join us for
this month’s educational meeting to learn more about transparency and the
NM Legislature.

*Thursday, March 12th at Noon*

*WHERE    **LWVCNM Offices Conference Room, 6739 Academy Rd. NE, ample
parking available In person (members and guests only); Zoom (members and
general public)*



*TOPIC:      **New Mexico’s Legislature: Is It or Is It Not Committed to
Transparency? *

*SPEAKER:*    *Christine Barber, Executive Director, New Mexico Foundation
for Open    Government (NMFOG)*



The League of Women Voters has long been committed to transparency. The
LWVUS national public policy position on *Citizen’s Right to Know/Public
Participation *states:

*Protect the citizen’s right to know and facilitate informed understanding
and public participation in government decision-making. *

This position is expanded upon in the LWVUS *Impact on Issues 2024-2026*:

*The League of Women Voters of the United States believes that democratic
government depends upon informed and active participation at all levels of
government. The League further believes that governmental bodies must
protect the citizen’s right to know by giving adequate notice of proposed
actions, holding open meetings, and making public records accessible. *

And, fifteen years ago, LWVNM adopted a comprehensive position on *Transparency
in State and Local Government*.



Our Sunshine Month speaker will share information about whether the New
Mexico Legislature has a full-throated commitment to transparency equal to
that of the League.

During her presentation to the League of Women Voters, Christine Barber
will discuss a new project examining public access to the New Mexico
Legislature during legislative sessions.

While every public body in New Mexico — including county commissions, city
councils and water districts — is required to conduct business at public
meetings and not behind closed doors under the Open Meetings Act, the
Legislature is exempt. This lack of statutory transparency raises important
questions about what information the public may be missing and whether
additional access and accountability measures are needed.

*Christine Barber* is the executive director of the New Mexico Foundation
for Open Government (FOG), a nonpartisan nonprofit that promotes government
transparency by helping the public access public records and open meetings.

Before joining FOG, Christine worked as a reporter and editor at newspapers
in Gallup, Santa Fe and Albuquerque, and later moved into the nonprofit
sector, where she worked with trafficking victims living on the street.

At FOG, she draws on her journalism background to investigate potential
violations of New Mexico’s Sunshine Laws by state and local governments.
Much of her work also focuses on assisting members of the public who
contact the FOG helpline when they encounter barriers to accessing
government information.

Zoom Invitation

Topic:   New Mexico’s Legislature: Is It or Is It Not Committed to
Transparency?
Time: Mar 12, 2026 12:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82976431937?pwd=BBKpby2JkaBFmfraDAUZAGX0QlQv47.1

Meeting ID: 829 7643 1937
Passcode: 718116
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+12532158782,,82976431937#,,,,*718116# US (Tacoma)
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Join instructions
https://us02web.zoom.us/meetings/82976431937/invitations?signature=CuKfTqY-DYFuEMGy7PD1hKRnOYSvBrcvXpkPz2mEs_E

League of Women Voters of Central New Mexico
6739 Academy Rd. NE  Suite 124
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109-3


League of Women Voters of Central New Mexico
6739 Academy Rd. NE  Suite 124
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109-3352
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