As the dust settles on an incredibly challenging legislative session, we wanted to share our collective work over the past 60 days. With Trump now in office, the stakes of this session couldn't have been higher. Our team worked tirelessly to ensure New Mexico remains a place where all people's rights are protected and respected.
While we faced significant headwinds, there were also important victories that will make a real difference in people's lives. Here's a closer look at what happened and where we go from here:
Accomplishments
Our coalitions and partners secured several important victories:
- Tribal regalia protection is now law, ensuring Indigenous students can wear traditional cultural items at graduation ceremonies and school events
- Expanded in-state tuition eligibility for immigrant students, increasing educational access
- Key privacy protections for driver's license data, preventing it from being shared for immigration enforcement
- Significant investments in behavioral health student practicums to address our provider shortage
- Stronger protections and support for renters, recognizing that housing stability is essential to public safety
With partners, we also helped successfully defeat several dangerous proposals that would have expanded mass incarceration, increased involuntary commitment, and imposed adult sentencing on children.
Frustrations
Despite our best efforts, this session delivered significant setbacks. The governor vetoed our unanimously passed parole reform at the last moment. Multiple bills to protect immigrant communities from federal enforcement failed to advance. Our attempts to regulate police surveillance technology and pass urgent privacy protections for LGBTQ+ communities, patients, and providers couldn't overcome opposition. Critical health and safety measures for incarcerated people and overdose prevention also died without reaching the floor. These defeats highlight the challenges ahead while strengthening our determination to continue fighting for civil liberties.
What's Next
We know the challenges are only going to grow stronger as we continue to face attacks from the federal government, big tech, and hostile out-of-state authorities. Our legislature must prioritize real solutions to public safety, including:
- Meaningful housing access protections
- Essential privacy safeguards for sensitive personal data
- Expanded addiction treatment and harm reduction services
- Limits on police surveillance technology
- Protections for immigrants from federal deportation efforts
The governor is already talking about another special session for public safety. Let us be clear: we'll be there to push for real solutions—not more incarceration.
How to Get Involved
We're not done. We'll keep organizing through the interim—and for whatever's next. Thank you for standing with us to defend civil liberties and human rights. Despite the challenges, we remain steadfast in building a more just, equitable New Mexico.
