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January 24, 2017
New Mexico’s political season has begun with the swearing in of the 53rd New Mexico State Legislature and Governor Susan Martinez’s sixth State-of-the-State address. The major concern of this legislative session will be New Mexico’s $65 million budget shortfall. As the debate on how and when to manage the budget emerges, ethical and moral issues will also be at the forefront of the session.
Please pray for the 2017 New Mexico State Legislative Session. We inform you of the progress of the following legislative concerns:
Bills We Will Follow:
Three bills will be of interest to the Christian community this legislative session: infants born alive following a failed abortion, legally assisting the termination of the life of the infirm and elderly and the legalization of marijuana.
Born Alive Infant Protection Act: House Bill 37, Rep. Rod Montoya (R-Farmington) Rep. Montoya’s bill requires that any child born alive receives medical care and that the child is to be reported as a live birth. The bill is slated to stop infanticide following a failed abortion.
End of Life Options Act: House Bill 171, Rep. Deborah Armstrong (D-Albuquerque) and Rep. Bill McCamley (D-Mesilla Park)
Following the New Mexico Supreme Court’s failure to find Physician-Assisted-Suicide constitutional, the State Legislature has now stepped in to make the act legal. House Bill 171 removes all criminal liability for physicians who assist patients in killing themselves.
Cannabis Revenue and Freedom Act: House Bill 89, Rep. Bill McCamley (D-Mesilla Park) and Rep. Javier Martinez (D-Albuquerque) House Bill 89 legalizes marijuana in the state, establishes an oversight board, restricts possession amounts and taxes sales.
God bless our legislators, their deliberations and the may the laws be of His righteousness.
New Mexico Watchman
www.nmwatchman.org
