The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico, Bold Futures, and New Mexico Dream Team
are all part of RFDC’s New Mexico grantee cohort. Last October, when
the cohort learned of an impending hospital acquisition by a Catholic
healthcare system, threatening access to gender-affirming and
reproductive healthcare in their largely rural state, the group quickly
acted. They coordinated community engagement, advocacy, and legislative
efforts, centering community needs and voices. This included ensuring
that community members received stipends for testifying on behalf of a
bill aimed at creating greater community input and government oversight
of hospital mergers and other healthcare transactions.

Ultimately, the “Health Care Consolidation Oversight Act” (Senate Bill
15) did pass. While formalized community input was not included in the
final legislation, cohort members say they are already preparing to take
up this issue again in the next legislative session. In the meantime,
they are leaning into years of relationship-building as they continue to
educate New Mexicans about religious directives and mobilize them to
take action.