Republican males took over an hour and a half on the second-to-last day of the 60-day New Mexico legislative session in an effort to dam or change protecting reproductive well being care laws. 

Rep. Rod Montoya (R-Farmington) took half in a 110-minute debate, which ultimately did not amend Senate Invoice 13, in an effort to stall protections for reproductive well being companies within the state.

The invoice was handed by a 38-30 vote and can now go to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who is anticipated to signal it into legislation. All Republicans together with six Democrats voted in opposition to the measure.

SB 13 would shield medical suppliers and sufferers getting reproductive or gender-affirming well being care.

Democrats in opposition to SB 13

The six Democratic representatives who voted in opposition to the supplier and affected person protections are Reps. Anthony Allison (Fruitland), Ambrose Castellano (Serrafina), Harry Garcia (Grants), Wonda Johnson (Rehoboth), Patricia Lundstrom (Gallup) and Joseph Sanchez (Alcalde).

Rep. Andrea Romero (D-Santa Fe) defined the invoice to the Home of Representatives on Friday. 

Below this invoice, suppliers and sufferers could be protected against extradition and civil or prison prosecution. Their well being care info would even be protected.

“The purpose of that is to make sure that all events concerned would not have to threat any kind of concern of lawsuit, of criminalized exercise,” Romero stated. “That they’re protected.”

She stated this invoice is coming ahead after different states have put forth strict anti-abortion legal guidelines. Folks have been fleeing to New Mexico for reproductive well being care since Texas enacted extreme bans on abortion care that have an effect on sufferers, suppliers and anybody who helps them.

Romero stated there are additionally tons of of anti-trans items of laws which have been launched in different states. 9 payments have already been signed into legislation. Romero stated New Mexico can transfer in the wrong way with this invoice.

“In New Mexico, now we have the chance now to actually affirmatively look after our residents, affirmatively look after these people which are in search of well being care, in search of to be themselves,” she stated.

Just like different legislative debates on payments that contain abortion care, Republicans talked at size about how they don’t help the invoice or particulars in it. GOP male lawmakers took up quite a lot of allotted time talking in opposition to the invoice.

Montoya, the Republican from Farmington, ignited an extended debate. Many feminine lawmakers on the opposite aspect of the aisle repeatedly rose as much as converse in opposition to his factors, typically calling them offensive.

New Mexico poised to strengthen state Human Rights Act

Democrats management the Home by a big majority, giving the invoice massive help to cross.

Montoya together with different Republicans requested a number of questions concerning the legality of the invoice. 

Romero repeated that this proposed legislation would solely apply in New Mexico and to these partaking in actions within the state. As a result of New Mexico is a sovereign state, she stated, it could have its personal legal guidelines that preside over its personal territory.

“Any protected exercise occurring right here that’s authorized is just not against the law,” she stated. “It’s not against the law. It’s not unlawful. And subsequently we’re affirmatively defending that in opposition to different states from coming after folks in our state who’re protected by our legal guidelines.”

At one level, after Montoya managed the dialogue for half an hour, Home Speaker Javier Martinez (D-Albuquerque) requested Montoya if he would transfer his first proposed modification. 

Montoya stated no, he wished to maintain discussing the proposal earlier than going to that modification that might take much more dialogue. 

“I wish to proceed my line of questioning,” Montoya stated.

After introducing the modification and debating it with different lawmakers for half an hour, Montoya withdrew it simply to introduce an identical one with some language modifications. The controversy for that went on for one more 40 minutes.

Whereas Montoya continued to speak, greater than 100 different payments sat on the Home schedule on Friday, ready to be heard earlier than the session ended at midday on Saturday. 

As his debate virtually rolled previous the two-hour mark, laws that might shield the atmosphere, enhance psychological well being sources or help Native American communities sat unheard.

After the total debate stretched previous the three-hour mark, lawmakers voted to not let it go on any additional. In addition they voted to desk Montoya’s modification that might strike components of the invoice concerning the safety of knowledge associated to well being care companies.

Montoya continued to battle for an opportunity to talk, going forwards and backwards with Martinez on his proper to handle the physique after his modification was tabled. Martinez repeatedly denied his request for the reason that debate had ended.

“We’ve taken greater than three hours on this single invoice and doubtless 45 minutes on the modification,” Martinez stated.

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