Petition to repeal several new bills in New Mexico

New Mexico Republicans and other organizations need nearly 180,000 signatures to try and reject six new laws. “Unfortunately, it's too late because of how far they've come, which is why we want to stop them,” Jodi Hendricks with the New Mexico Family Action said. Hendricks is one of the people supporting the "Referendum Project." The bills HB-7, SB-13 and SB-397 are about reproductive and gender-affirming care and school-based health centers. “When you start talking about mutilating children. And turning them from a boy to a girl. And they're 12, 14, you know, even 16 years old. That's too young to make a decision like that,” Rep. Harlan Vincent (R) Lincoln & Otero County said. Vincent said the opposition is about parental control. “If you want to be gay, be gay. But let's hold off on gender-affirming health care until you're at least an adult,” Vincent said. The executive director of Equality NM, Marshall Martinez said, “Young people, over 90% of them, involve their parents or a trusted adult in sexual reproductive health care decisions. That means that the 10% who don't do so have good reasons.”Those who advocated for these bills said they are important. “I am incredibly disappointed that these folks are putting together this effort to repeal the hard-fought protections that we wanted this legislative session,” Martinez said. If the right amount of signatures are reached, then the bills will be put on a ballot for a vote in 2024.Other bills being challenged include changes to elections, voter protections and child abuse best interest standards. A spokesperson for Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisha said in a statement, "Opponents of the bills listed in this petition are attempting to block actions to include all New Mexicans under the umbrella of care and equality they deserve."

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —

New Mexico Republicans and other organizations need nearly 180,000 signatures to try and reject six new laws.

“Unfortunately, it's too late because of how far they've come, which is why we want to stop them,” Jodi Hendricks with the New Mexico Family Action said.

Hendricks is one of the people supporting the "Referendum Project."

The bills HB-7, SB-13 and SB-397 are about reproductive and gender-affirming care and school-based health centers.

“When you start talking about mutilating children. And turning them from a boy to a girl. And they're 12, 14, you know, even 16 years old. That's too young to make a decision like that,” Rep. Harlan Vincent (R) Lincoln & Otero County said.

Vincent said the opposition is about parental control.

“If you want to be gay, be gay. But let's hold off on gender-affirming health care until you're at least an adult,” Vincent said.

The executive director of Equality NM, Marshall Martinez said, “Young people, over 90% of them, involve their parents or a trusted adult in sexual reproductive health care decisions. That means that the 10% who don't do so have good reasons.”

Those who advocated for these bills said they are important.

“I am incredibly disappointed that these folks are putting together this effort to repeal the hard-fought protections that we wanted this legislative session,” Martinez said.

If the right amount of signatures are reached, then the bills will be put on a ballot for a vote in 2024.

Other bills being challenged include changes to elections, voter protections and child abuse best interest standards.

A spokesperson for Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisha said in a statement, "Opponents of the bills listed in this petition are attempting to block actions to include all New Mexicans under the umbrella of care and equality they deserve."

Petition to repeal several new bills in New Mexico

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