NMFAM Sponsored Legislation

In New Mexico, too many women facing unexpected pregnancies feel alone, unsupported, and pressured into choices they might not otherwise make. Financial hardships, lack of child care, unstable relationships, or simply fear of the unknown often push women toward abortion—not because it’s what they want, but because they feel they have no other option.

House Bill 578, the Every Mother Matters Act, is a groundbreaking piece of legislation designed to change that reality. By providing real, tangible support to pregnant women and new mothers, HB 578 ensures that no woman in New Mexico is left to navigate pregnancy alone. It’s not about restricting rights—it’s about expanding opportunities, resources, and hope.

A Life-Affirming, Woman-Centered Approach

HB 578 creates the Pregnancy Launch Program, a statewide initiative that offers free prenatal care, child care assistance, housing support, addiction recovery services, and counseling for women in crisis. The bill requires health care providers to inform women seeking an abortion that these services exist, ensuring that every woman is fully aware of the help available to her before making an irreversible decision.

This approach is not just compassionate—it’s effective. Studies show that 75% of women seeking abortion say they would prefer to parent if their circumstances were different. Many do not know where to turn for support, and the abortion industry has no financial incentive to inform them. HB 578 fills this gap by giving women access to real help.

New Mexico has some of the most permissive abortion laws in the nation, yet little infrastructure to help women who want to keep their babies. This bill does not change abortion laws—it simply provides an alternative. And if we truly believe in a woman’s right to choose, we should ensure that she is aware of every choice, not just the one that profits the abortion industry.

Learning from Success in Other States

New Mexico is not the first state to take this approach. Texas, Arkansas, and Tennessee have already implemented programs that connect women to alternatives to abortion. The results have been striking.

In Texas, a similar initiative provided support to over 10,000 women in just two years. One-third of those women chose to continue their pregnancies after receiving the help they needed. These programs have successfully reduced abortion rates without banning abortion—simply by giving women the resources they need to make a life-affirming choice.

Arkansas’ Every Mom Matters Act implemented a hotline that women seeking an abortion must call before the procedure, where they are offered immediate connections to financial, medical, and social resources. In its first year, thousands of women opted for assistance. New Mexico can replicate this success, ensuring women have access to life-saving and life-changing support.

Addressing the Critics

Opponents of HB 578 claim that requiring a woman to hear about support options before an abortion is a burden. But how is offering help a burden? The conversation takes just a few minutes, and participation is entirely voluntary. Women are free to reject the support, but they at least deserve to know it exists.

Another argument is that this bill “interferes with abortion access.” In reality, it does no such thing. It does not ban, delay, or restrict abortion—it simply ensures that no woman undergoes an abortion without knowing she has alternatives. If abortion advocates truly care about choice, they should have no problem with a bill that expands awareness of everychoice, not just abortion.

Finally, some claim that existing services already support pregnant women. But the reality is that many women don’t know these resources exist or struggle to navigate the fragmented system. HB 578 streamlines support and ensures no woman is left behind.

A Call to Action

New Mexico has an opportunity to be a leader in compassionate, pro-woman policy. HB 578 does not punish, coerce, or restrict—it simply helps. It tells women: You are not alone. We see you. We will support you.

This is not a partisan issue. It’s not about politics—it’s about people. It’s about the single mother who wants to keep her baby but doesn’t know how. It’s about the teen girl scared and abandoned. It’s about the woman in an abusive relationship who needs a way out. And it’s about the thousands of babies who deserve a chance at life.

New Mexico legislators should pass HB 578 without hesitation. It’s time to build a culture where motherhood is embraced, not feared, and where every mother—regardless of circumstance—knows that she and her child matter.

Because every mother matters. Every baby matters. And every life is worth fighting for.

  Every child is precious. Every parent deserves a voice. Families should be empowered to make informed decisions about their children's well-being. Senate Bill 500 (SB500), the Detransitioner Protection Act, embodies these principles. This legislation isn’t about politics—it’s about safeguarding our children, upholding parental rights, and ensuring that no family faces difficult decisions alone.

In recent years, there's been a significant increase in minors undergoing medical treatments for gender transition—some with irreversible consequences. Many young people have received puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries, often without comprehensive long-term research supporting these interventions. Equally concerning is the lack of adequate counseling and informed parental involvement.

SB500 offers a compassionate response by ensuring that no child undergoes irreversible procedures before fully comprehending the lifelong implications. It reinforces a fundamental principle: parents should be informed and involved in their child's medical care. Additionally, it provides support for individuals who regret their transition and seek to detransition—a group often overlooked in public discourse.

Children and teenagers are in a continuous state of growth—physically, emotionally, and mentally. Scientific research confirms what many parents instinctively understand: young minds aren't fully developed to make permanent medical decisions. We don't permit minors to get tattoos, consume alcohol, or sign legal contracts. Why, then, would we allow them to make life-changing medical choices without full parental consent and thorough counseling?

SB500 safeguards children by prohibiting gender transition procedures, including hormone therapies and surgeries, for minors. Instead, it promotes counseling and mental health support, providing children the time and space to navigate their feelings without irreversible outcomes.

Parents have a sacred duty to guide and care for their children. SB500 reinforces the fundamental right of parents to be involved in significant medical decisions affecting their children. It prevents schools and healthcare providers from withholding information from parents about their child's gender-related medical care. Moreover, it protects parents from accusations of abuse or neglect simply for questioning or declining gender transition treatments.

Too many parents have shared heartbreaking stories of being kept in the dark while their child was encouraged toward medical transition. No parent should be sidelined regarding their child's well-being. SB500 ensures transparency and empowers families to make decisions together.

Another critical issue is the growing number of detransitioners—individuals who previously underwent gender transition but later regretted it and sought to reclaim their biological identity. Many feel abandoned by medical professionals who once encouraged their transition. SB500 ensures that those who regret their transition have access to medical care and support as they work to restore their health and identity.

SB500 isn’t about exclusion or discrimination—it’s about compassion, protection, and responsibility. It ensures that vulnerable children receive the time, care, and support they need to understand themselves without facing irreversible consequences. It reaffirms the role of parents in guiding their children's healthcare decisions. And it provides assistance to those who decide their past choices weren’t the right path.

Opponents of SB500 might argue that it restricts young people's choices. In reality, it ensures that young individuals don't make decisions they might later regret before they're ready to fully understand them. This bill doesn’t prevent consenting adults from seeking gender-related medical care. Instead, it ensures that life-altering decisions are made with the necessary maturity, knowledge, and support.

At its core, SB500 is about protecting the next generation and strengthening families; ensuring that no child is rushed into medical interventions they may later regret; and, giving parents a voice and offering hope to those who need it most.

We urge lawmakers to stand with families and pass SB500. Protecting children shouldn’t be controversial—it should be common sense. Let’s unite, beyond political and ideological lines, to do what’s right for New Mexico's children, parents, and families.