MORE THAN 100 GATHER FOR PASTORS’ DAY AT THE LEGISLATURE
For the third straight year, Family Policy Alliance and New Mexico Prays partnered to host “Pastors Day at the Legislature.” This year, more than 100 pastors, faith, and ministry leaders gathered in the Capitol Rotunda to worship and pray for New Mexico and its elected officials. Pastor Richard Mansfield of New Beginnings Church in Albuquerque provided the sermon for the service, while other pastors and leaders led prayers for families, the unborn, our education system, the economy, and our state’s leaders. After the service, all attendees were treated to a complimentary lunch.
RADICAL PRO-ABORTION BILL ADVANCES IN SENATE
After passing the House Representatives by a vote of 40-29, the radical pro-abortion bill—House Bill 51—passed its first Senate committee hearing in the Senate Public Affairs Committee. During the hearing, the sponsor’s expert witness conceded that the bill does indeed repeal the only explicit abortion-related conscience protection for physicians and medical professionals. HB 51 now heads to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
ASSISTED SUICIDE ADVANCES IN SENATE
While House Bill 90 awaits a vote in the House of Representatives, the Senate advanced its assisted suicide legislation—Senate Bill 153—through its first committee. SB 153, which mirrors HB 90, passed the Senate Public Affairs Committee on a 4-3 party-line vote, with Democrats supporting the measure. If passed and signed into law, these bills would allow non-physicians, including physician assistants and nurse practitioners, to determine mental capacity and prescribe life-ending medication. They would also force doctors and medical professionals to violate their conscience and refer patients for assisted suicide. Meanwhile, the legislation lacks many of the safeguards found in other states, including waiting periods.
RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA LEGISLATION ADVANCES TO FULL HOUSE
After clearing two House Committees, House Bill 356, which would legalize the recreational use of marijuana, is now on the House Calendar. Meanwhile, in the Senate, a few Republican Senators have also introduced a bill that would legalize recreational marijuana. However, unlike HB 356, the Senate Bill 577 would have the state operate retail marijuana stores and would not allow for homegrown marijuana production.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“If my child is going to have an abortion, I want to know. I have a right to know. I’m the parent. I have the responsibility for the decisions about my child. The sex trafficking issue is no joke and our children need more protection—not less. I fully support paternal notification of a child’s abortion and HB600.” -Carla Lovato, Albuquerque resident
LEGISLATOR OF THE WEEK
State Representative Gregg Schmedes (R-Bernalillo, Sandoval & Santa Fe)
State Representative Gregg Schmedes was appointed to the New Mexico House of Representatives in 2018 to represent District 22 (Bernalillo, Sandoval, and Santa Fe Counties). He was elected to a full term last November. Representative Schmedes is the only physician serving in the New Mexico Legislature. He graduated from medical school at Texas Tech University, where he served as president of his class. During college, he also organized and led missions’ trips to Mexico, and from 2014-2016, he served in Cameroon as a teacher and surgeon for Samaritan Purse’s World Medical Mission. Representative Schmedes previously worked as an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of New Mexico and he currently serves as the State Director for the American Academy of Medical Ethics. He is married to Kelly, and together, they have five beautiful children.
BILLS TO WATCH THIS WEEK
