Santa Fe, NM - Advocate groups and lawmakers, including State Senator Linda Lopez and Representative Linda Serrato, are calling for the protection and expansion of reproductive freedom in New Mexico, including abortion care, ahead of the 2023 Legislative Session. A press conference hosted by ProgressNow New Mexico, Bold Futures NM, the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico (ACLU), Forward Together Action, and Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains (PPRM) today outlined upcoming legislative priorities including supporting the Reproductive Health Care Protection Act and the Reproductive Health Care Freedom Act.
The Reproductive Health Care Protection Act puts into law, and expands upon, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s first executive order prohibiting state agencies and others from sharing private information related to reproductive health care for New Mexican patients and providers, provides crucial guidance to New Mexico state entities on how to protect patients and providers from abusive investigation and harassment from out of state entities, and allows patients and providers to hold entities accountable that share their personal reproductive health care information.
The Reproductive Health Care Freedom Act prohibits public bodies, including local municipalities, from denying, restricting or discriminating against an individual’s right to use or refuse reproductive health care or health care related to gender. It ensures that state law protects families seeking reproductive healthcare in every part of New Mexico. Additionally, it asserts what we already know - that the State is the regulator of reproductive health care and that no public entity, including counties or municipalities, have the authority to discriminate against reproductive health care access.
"As the mother of two daughters, through two difficult pregnancies, we always want to be expanding access to reproductive healthcare at every opportunity,” said Representative Linda Serrato. “And we also want to make sure that people are always getting the healthcare they need without a fear of retribution or shame. We want to make sure that people feel protected and that they will be able to access the health care they need."
“New Mexicans have the right to make their own decisions about if, when, and how they want to grow their families,” added House Majority Floor Leader Gail Chasey. “House Democrats are committed to protecting and expanding access to this vital health care and fundamental right across our state.”
After the fall of Roe v. Wade last summer, New Mexico emerged as a national leader in reproductive health care access and this year, advocates and lawmakers are steadfastly moving forward with more protections than any other state has offered in the history of our country.
“The legislation we are introducing will provide crucial guidance to New Mexico State entities on how to protect patients and providers from abusive investigation and harassment from out-of-state agencies and entities,” said Senator Linda M. Lopez. “It will also allow patients and providers to hold corporations, public entities and nonprofits accountable that share their personal medical data as it relates, of course, to anything with their reproductive health care. It’s an opportunity that we have and we need to make sure that we are protecting those very important reproductive healthcare rights for all in New Mexico.”
The vast majority of New Mexicans believe decisions about reproductive healthcare, including abortion, are personal and must remain between the person seeking care, their loved ones, and their medical provider.
“In New Mexico abortion care remains legal and that’s due to decades of work led by our communities and when we truly listen to and are led by black indigenous women and people of color communities, we prioritize expanding access to the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare, including abortion,” said Kat Sanchez, Policy Co-Director at Bold Futures NM. “Our job is to ensure that any proposed legislation is done intentionally and thoughtfully with those priorities in mind especially in ways that make healthcare affordable and attainable for patients.”
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