New Mexico legislation · 2026 Regular Session
New Mexico SM14: ADDRESS FORCED STERILIZATION POLICY
Status: Passed both chambers, February 16, 2026
What the bill says
From the enrolled text, February 16, 2026:
A MEMORIAL REQUESTING THE INDIAN AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN TO STUDY AND DEVELOP A STATEWIDE PLAN OF ACTION TO ADDRESS THE FORMER GOVERNMENT POLICY OF FORCED OR COERCED STERILIZATION OF INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND OTHER WOMEN OF COLOR IN NEW MEXICO AND TO LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR A STATE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION, A MEMORIAL TO VICTIMS OF FORCED OR COERCED STERILIZATION AND STATE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE INHUMANITY OF THE GRIEVOUS POLICY. WHEREAS, between 1907 and 2018, Indigenous women and other women of color across the United States, including in New Mexico, were subjected to forced or coerced sterilizations without their free, prior and informed consent, often through the federal bureau of Indian affairs and its contracted health care or the bureau's successor, the Indian health service and its direct services and purchased-referred care, which includes physicians and other health care providers, private practices, clinics and institutions; and WHEREAS, investigations in the 1970s revealed that between twenty-five and fifty percent of Indigenous women of childbearing age had been sterilized, with some of the highest concentrations of procedures occurring in the Indian health service regions of Albuquerque and the broader SM Page southwest; and WHEREAS, federal and independent inquiries, including those conducted by the United States government accountability office in 1976 and Indigenous researchers, such as …
Sponsors
- Linda M. López (D, SD-011) · primary sponsor
- Shannon D. Pinto (D, SD-003)
- Antoinette Sedillo Lopez (D, SD-016)
- Angel M. Charley (D, SD-030)
- Cindy Nava (D, SD-009)
- Heather Berghmans (D, SD-015)
- Katy Duhigg (D, SD-010)
- Natalie Figueroa (D, SD-018)
- Carrie Hamblen (D, SD-038)
- Elizabeth "Liz" Stefanics (D, SD-039)
- Mimi Stewart (D, SD-017)
- Nicole Tobiassen (R, SD-021)
Latest actions
- : Signed by one or both houses (for legislation not requiring Governor's signature)
- : Passed in the Senate - Y:39 N:0
- : SIRC: Reported by committee with Do Pass recommendation
- : SRC: Reported by committee with Do Pass recommendation
- : Sent to SRC - Referrals: SRC/SIRC
Subjects: NATIVE AMERICAN AFFAIRS, MEMORIALS, OTHER
Common questions
- What is SM14?
- SM14 is a bill in the New Mexico Legislature (2026 Regular Session): ADDRESS FORCED STERILIZATION POLICY.
- What is the status of SM14?
- Passed both chambers as of February 16, 2026. Latest action: Signed by one or both houses (for legislation not requiring Governor's signature) (February 16, 2026).
- Who sponsored SM14?
- Linda M. López (D, SD-011), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SM14?
- On the New Mexico Legislature website: https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=S&legType=M&legNo=14&year=26
Source: official New Mexico record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.