Renato Costa

On Friday, the state House Health and Human Services Committee advanced a radical piece of legislation, H.B. 7, which would force public bodies to facilitate abortions and transgenderism, dubbed “gender-affirming care,” or face lawsuits. 

The bill also explicitly bans municipalities and counties from passing local laws to protect children in the womb from being aborted, meaning places like Roosevelt County would be banned from enforcing their ordinances.

The bill would “prohibit public bodies from discriminating against persons based on their use or non-use of reproductive or gender-affirming care,” meaning it could push teachers and any other public workers to support body mutilation for all ages, including children, as well as abortion, according to the bill’s fiscal impact report. 

So-called “gender-affirming care” means “psychological, behavioral, surgical, medication, and other medical services to support a person’s gender identity,” while “public bodies” are defined as “state and local governments, commissions, or boards established by the state and any branches of state government, such as school districts and universities, that receive state funding.” It would also open up conscientious objectors to civil suits.

The New Mexico Family Action Movement wrote of the committee, “Although it was a great disappointment to see this bill move forward, we are thankful for the representatives who stood in opposition to it. With meticulous scrutiny of the bill, Rep. Jenifer Jones, Rep. Stefani Lord, and Rep. Harlan Vincent stood firmly against the proposed legislation.” 

Following the bill’s passage through the committee, Ranking Member Jenifer Jones (R-Deming) wrote, “During today’s discussion it became clear that this bill opens up the doors for any agent of any ‘public body’ or organization that receives public funding including [M]edicaid — to include doctors, teachers, firefighters, police, etc. — to be sued privately or by the Attorney General for ‘indirectly interfering’ with anyone seeking abortion or transgender procedures.”

“This means that if a child asks a teacher or doctor for help obtaining an abortion or transgender procedure, and they do not refer them to such a provider, or if they suggest alternative care, the teacher or doctor could potentially be sued for ‘indirectly interfering’ with access to these procedures for up to $5,000 or ‘damages’ including tens of thousands in attorney fees.” 

The bill ultimately passed 7-3 and now heads to the House Judiciary Committee, where it will continue to be scrutinized.