Yesterday, the House Judiciary Committe voted on party line, 7 – 4 to pass the abortion healthcare and gender-affirming bill for transgender people, the Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Health Care Freedom Act, House Bill 7.
During debate over an amendment offered by the sponsor to clarify langauge, Rep Ryan Lane (R-San Juan) stated, “instead of claiming conscience protections are in other areas of the law, now would be the time to enshrine it. This bill creates new statutory rights, I want to know what person it applies to. I just want to know does the bill apply to an 8 year old or not.”
An amendment was offered by Representative Gail Chasey (D- Bernalillo) for penalities to apply only to a public body, rather than an individual public employee. The amendment passed on an 11-0 vote.
The bill now heads to the New Mexico House Floor for a final vote before heading to the Senate for concurrence and further debate.