It’s hard to believe that there is less than a week left in the 2024 legislative session! The tough-on-crime bills that dominated early discussions in the Roundhouse are slowing down amidst skepticism that they will work, although we still anticipate movement on gun safety measures. Until the action ends on Thursday February 15 at noon, we can expect marathon committee floor sessions every day, including this weekend. We’re optimistic that the key agenda items we’ve been supporting along with our partner organizations have a chance to pass. Be on alert for ways you can help let our legislators know that the affirmative consent and Paid Family Leave bills are essential progress for New Mexicans! If you have a minute right now, sign our petition in support of HB151 The Benjamin Higher Education Sexual Violence Prevention Act.
Our EQNM team is immersed in all things legislative. Shoutout to Nathan Saavedra and Michelle Najera (and her boyfriend Hector!) for joining Executive Director Marshall Martinez in Santa Fe today to support our community.
If you’re not following Haley Lynn’s epic EQNM TikToks, fix that now! Haley is covering the last week of the session in her posts.
Affirmative Consent passed the Senate Education Committee unanimously. The bill must now be addressed by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The more noise we make, the better the chance that The Benjamin Higher Education Sexual Violence Prevention Act will become law. Let the Judiciary Committee know where you stand by signing EQNM’s petition. The link is available here and on all our social media platforms if you want to share it.
Thanks to the many champions who helped to push Affirmative Consent through the Senate! We see you working hard for us.
Paid Family Medical Leave is still in play. In great news, it passed the Senate late last night!
Sadly, the Dignity Not Detention bill we supported died on the Senate floor. As it works now, ICE contracts with local New Mexico jails and private prisons to house immigrants that they solely can decide to detain. These local facilities are not subject to significant federal regulation, making them sites of gross abuses like harassment, hunger, sexual assault and other physical harms. The Dignity Not Detention bill would have prevented the state from contracting with ICE to use these facilities. New Mexico had a chance to put values before economics to ensure that we aren’t part of the torture of asylum seekers held by ICE, but members of the Senate killed that opportunity. Be sure to look up how your representatives voted on this bill, and remember it during the next election.
STAY TUNED
In the frantic final days of the session there will be an onslaught of meetings and news to keep up with about our bills and others. Legislators are continuing to take a thoughtful and deliberate approach to protecting our communities from gun violence, which will surely dominate much of the docket. Keep up with us on Twitter/X for the immediate stuff, and check back next week for our wrap up post. After you SIGN THE PETITION FOR HB151, of course. We’ll finally have answers soon!