By Jodi Hendricks
March 31, 2025
As the dust settles from the 2025 legislative session, one truth rises above the noise: what’s happening in Santa Fe doesn’t reflect the values of everyday New Mexicans. Our state’s leaders have become increasingly disconnected from the people they were elected to serve, pushing through radical agendas while ignoring the voices of the very communities they claim to represent.
Throughout this session, political ambition took precedence over real representation. Harmful bills like HB27 (Librarian Protection Act), SB552 (Protection of School Library Materials Act), SB258 (Human Sexuality Education), and HB11 (Paid Family and Medical Leave Act) were given priority while many bills protecting women, girls, and children were never heard or were tabled after half a committee hearing. Instead of listening to hardworking New Mexicans, our representatives seemed focused on checking the boxes of a progressive agenda.
The gap between Santa Fe and the rest of New Mexico has never been wider. People across the state are calling for common-sense policies that protect families, parental rights, and community values—but those calls are falling on deaf ears. Too many legislators have abandoned their duty to represent constituents, choosing instead to push forward agendas that don’t align with the heart of our state.
Take HB450, for example—a funding bill that had no major objections until Governor Lujan Grisham requested an eleventh-hour provision to spend $10 million in taxpayer money to build a new abortion clinic in northern New Mexico. It wasn’t just the substance of the bill that was problematic—it was the deceptive, backdoor way it was pushed through. Rushing legislation without transparency betrays the public’s trust and highlights how disconnected our leaders have become.
Another example is HB11, the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act, which passed the House and one Senate committee before finally being stopped in the Senate Finance Committee. This happened despite statewide opposition from employees and business owners alike. The bill threatened to close businesses and impose heavier tax burdens on both employers and workers. Yet, despite hundreds of thousands of letters, emails, and phone calls from New Mexicans voicing opposition, it was only barely halted at the last moment.
It begs the question—who were the representatives truly representing when they voted to pass HB11, despite having thousands of letters of opposition sitting on their desks?
But here’s what gives me hope: New Mexicans are waking up. This session proved that even when our voices are ignored, we won’t be silenced. Despite relentless attempts to push radical agendas, hundreds of thousands of New Mexicans stood up and spoke out—through emails, phone calls, prayers, and public testimony. While many harmful bills were pushed through, some were ultimately halted because the opposition was too strong to ignore. This shows that when we stand together, our collective voice makes a difference.
But the fight isn’t over. We must channel this momentum into real change by holding our leaders accountable and reminding them that their first duty is to represent the people—not push divisive agendas. Our state deserves better. We need leaders who listen to ALL the people they serve. If we want New Mexico to thrive, we must be the change we want to see—by replacing complacency with courage and political gamesmanship with genuine leadership.
Let’s stand together—stronger, more determined, and more unified than ever before. Let’s continue to pray for our leaders, advocate for our values, and prepare to take action to protect what matters most. Our state deserves leaders who put people over politics. Let’s work together to make that a reality.
It’s time for change. Let’s make it happen.
