HOUSE BILL 7 PASSES FIRST COMMITTEE IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTIVES
The Respect NM Women and Families Act, House Bill 7, was passed in its first committee in the NM House of Representatives, sponsored by Rep. Micaela Lara Cadena (D-Mesilla), Rep. Joanne Ferrary (D-Las Cruces), Rep. Georgene Louis (D-Albuquerque), Rep. Deborah Armstrong (D-Albuquerque) and Speaker Of The House of Representatives Brian Egolf (D-Santa Fe) was passed in its first committee in the NM House of Representatives.
This act passed on a partisan vote with the seven Democratic members of the committee voting in favor of passing House Bill 7, and the four Republican members of the committee voting against.
The Respect NM Women and Families Act would repeal a pre-Roe v. Wade statute from 1969 that is still on the books in New Mexico. The 1969 abortion ban would make abortion a felony, jeopardizing access to safe and legal care in New Mexico.
If Roe v. Wade is removed or is weakened by the Supreme Court of the United States, this law could quickly become enforceable again.There is currently already a courtcase aimed at repealing and weakening Roe v Wade, the landmark court case that legalized abortion in the US, in front of the Supreme Court Of The United States. Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a case out of Mississippi will consider the state’s 15 week abortion ban.
The Respect NM Women and Families Act is endorsed and supported by a number of medical and diverse human rights organizations. Governor Lujan Grisham has highlighted removing the old 1969 abortion ban from the books as one of her priorities for the 2021 Legislative Session. Currently the Supreme Court Of The United States has a conservative and anti-abortion majority. House Bill 7 now heads to the House Judiciary Committee for it’s final committee hearing in the New Mexico House Of Representatives.
