CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. — New Mexico has officially repealed a 1969 law which criminalized abortion in the state. The U.S. Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade decision nullified this law, but the toothless law remained on the books until the New Mexico State Legislature voted to remove it. The governor signed an order removing the 1969 law on Feb. 26.
The bill repealing the abortion ban was proposed to the state legislature in 2019. It passed the House of Representatives when a few Democratic Senators crossed party lines to kill the bill. Most of those senators were defeated in their primary elections; the bill passed both legislative chambers in 2021 and gained the governor’s signature.
Supporters argued that the right of New Mexicans to control their body needed to be preserved in case Roe v. Wade is overturned in the future. Opponents argued that abortion is unethical, and it should be criminalized. Senate Bill 10 does not affect the way things have been operating; it only removed a 1969 law, which was not in effect, that criminalized abortions.
How did this area’s officials vote?
Representative Eliseo Alcon voted yes, to pass the bill.
Representative Harry Garcia voted no, to kill the bill.
Senator George Munoz voted no, to kill the bill.
Sanchez voted no, to kill the bill.
In the House of Representatives, the bill passed 40-30. In the Senate the bill passed 25-17.
“A woman has the right to make decisions about her own body,” said N.M. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. “Anyone who seeks to violate bodily integrity, or to criminalize womanhood, is in the business of dehumanization. New Mexico is not in that business — not anymore. Our state statutes now reflect this inviolable recognition of humanity and dignity. I am incredibly grateful to the tireless advocates and legislators who fought through relentless misinformation and fearmongering to make this day a reality. Equality for all, equal justice, and equal treatment that is the standard. And I’m proud to lead a state that today moved one step closer to that standard.”