Republican guys took more than an hour and a half on the second-to-final day of the 60-day New Mexico legislative session in an work to block or modify protective reproductive wellness care legislation. 

Rep. Rod Montoya (R-Farmington) took aspect in a 110-minute debate, which ultimately failed to amend Senate Bill 13, in an work to stall protections for reproductive wellness solutions in the state.

The bill was passed by a 38-30 vote and will now go to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who is anticipated to sign it into law. All Republicans along with six Democrats voted against the measure.

SB 13 would safeguard healthcare providers and sufferers obtaining reproductive or gender-affirming wellness care.

Democrats against SB 13

The six Democratic representatives who voted against the provider and patient 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) explained the bill to the Home of Representatives on Friday. 

Below this bill, providers and sufferers would be protected from extradition and civil or criminal prosecution. Their wellness care details would also be protected.

“The point of this is to assure that all parties involved do not have to danger any sort of worry of lawsuit, of criminalized activity,” Romero stated. “That they’re protected.”

She stated this bill is coming forward following other states have place forth strict anti-abortion laws. Men and women have been fleeing to New Mexico for reproductive wellness care considering the fact that Texas enacted serious bans on abortion care that influence sufferers, providers and anybody who assists them.

Romero stated there are also hundreds of anti-trans pieces of legislation that have been introduced in other states. Nine bills have currently been signed into law. Romero stated New Mexico can move in the opposite path with this bill.

“In New Mexico, we have the chance now to seriously affirmatively care for our citizens, affirmatively care for these people that are in search of wellness care, in search of to be themselves,” she stated.

Comparable to other legislative debates on bills that involve abortion care, Republicans talked at length about how they do not help the bill or particulars in it. GOP male lawmakers took up a lot of allocated time speaking against the bill.

Montoya, the Republican from Farmington, ignited a extended debate. Several female lawmakers on the other side of the aisle repeatedly rose up to speak against his points, in some cases calling them offensive.

New Mexico poised to strengthen state Human Rights Act

Democrats handle the Home by a huge majority, providing the bill huge help to pass.

Montoya along with other Republicans asked numerous concerns about the legality of the bill. 

Romero repeated that this proposed law would only apply in New Mexico and to these engaging in activities in the state. Mainly because New Mexico is a sovereign state, she stated, it can have its personal laws that preside more than its personal territory.

“Any protected activity taking place right here that is legal is not a crime,” she stated. “It’s not a crime. It is not illegal. And as a result we are affirmatively safeguarding that against other states from coming following men and women in our state who are protected by our laws.”

At 1 point, following Montoya controlled the discussion for half an hour, Home Speaker Javier Martinez (D-Albuquerque) asked Montoya if he would move his initial proposed amendment. 

Montoya stated no, he wanted to hold discussing the proposal prior to going to that amendment that would take even extra discussion. 

“I want to continue my line of questioning,” Montoya stated.

Right after introducing the amendment and debating it with other lawmakers for half an hour, Montoya withdrew it just to introduce a comparable 1 with some language alterations. The debate for that went on for a different 40 minutes.

When Montoya continued to speak, extra than a hundred other bills sat on the Home schedule on Friday, waiting to be heard prior to the session ended at noon on Saturday. 

As his debate nearly rolled previous the two-hour mark, legislation that would safeguard the atmosphere, enhance mental wellness sources or help Native American communities sat unheard.

Right after the complete debate stretched previous the 3-hour mark, lawmakers voted not to let it go on any additional. They also voted to table Montoya’s amendment that would strike components of the bill with regards to the protection of details connected to wellness care solutions.

Montoya continued to fight for a likelihood to speak, going back and forth with Martinez on his suitable to address the physique following his amendment was tabled. Martinez repeatedly denied his request considering the fact that the debate had ended.

“We’ve taken extra than 3 hours on this single bill and likely a superior 45 minutes on the amendment,” Martinez stated.

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