Governor signs House Bill 7, Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Health Care Act

[Skip to content](#main-content)

# PRESS RELEASES

1. [Home](https://www.governor.state.nm.us) 2. [Press Releases](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/press-releases/) 3. Governor signs House Bill 7, Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Health Care Act

# Governor signs House Bill 7, Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Health Care Act

Mar 16, 2023 | [Press Releases](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/press-releases/)

SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Thursday morning, signed into law House Bill 7, the Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Health Care Act, which prohibits public bodies, including local municipalities, from denying, restricting, or discriminating against an individual’s right to use or refuse reproductive health care or health care related to gender.

HB 7 is sponsored by Rep. Linda Serrato, Rep. Charlotte Little, Rep. Kristina Ortez, House Majority Whip Rep. Reena Szczepanski, and Rep. Janelle Anyanonu.

“New Mexicans in every corner of our state deserve protections for their bodily autonomy and right to health care,” said Gov. Lujan Grisham. “I’m grateful for the hard work of the Legislature and community partners in getting this critical legislation across the finish line.”

“My family and I know firsthand how it feels for a birth plan to become a lifesaving surgery in an instant. House Bill 7 removes unnecessary barriers and protects access to essential health care,” said lead sponsor Rep. Serrato. “I am heartened that my daughters are growing up in a state that stands firm in our values, where we respect the complex decisions made by a person with their doctor.”

“House Bill 7 will ensure that all New Mexicans can get the care they need to live healthy, happy lives,” said co-sponsor Rep. Little. “New Mexicans should be free to make their own deeply personal health care decisions in consultation with their families and their providers, without unnecessary barriers or discrimination.”

“Trans and nonbinary individuals deserve the support and care necessary to survive and thrive,” said Rep.  Ortez. “Protecting gender-affirming health care is a critical part of making sure trans and non-binary New Mexicans can succeed in school, establish healthy relationships with their friends and family, and live authentically as themselves.”

“Everyone deserves access to essential health care no matter what corner of our state they call home,” said House Majority Whip Szczepanski. “House Bill 7 becoming law will protect New Mexico’s role as a national example for those seeking reproductive and gender-affirming care.”

“House Bill 7 ensures that New Mexicans can receive the full spectrum of the health care they need to be healthy and thrive,” said Rep. Anyanonu. “This law will save lives, improve health outcomes, and allow New Mexicans to build the future they’ve envisioned.”

“We are so grateful to live in a state where our communities, legislators and governor understand the importance of bodily autonomy, whether it be the full spectrum of reproductive health care or gender affirming care,” said Kayla Herring, Public Affairs Director for Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains. “The governor’s signing of this bill will ensure that local governments cannot discriminate against the communities they serve and the health care our families seek.”

“With the passage and signing of this legislation New Mexico is on the right track to protect our trans and nonbinary family members and friends. This is a crucial step to our liberation,” said Marshall Martinez, Executive Director for Equality New Mexico.

“In New Mexico we value the freedom and dignity of making your own personal decision about reproductive and gender-affirming health care,” said Ellie Rushforth, ACLU-NM managing reproductive rights and gender equity attorney. “Now more than ever it is critical that New Mexicans and our neighbors have access to the full spectrum of health care in every corner of our state. We thank the Governor for supporting and signing HB 7 into law. This is lifesaving legislation.”

“BIPOC and queer organizations have been laying the foundation for New Mexico to lean into our values and create a space of safety and security for people seeking care. As a queer woman of color, I am incredibly proud that we can show the nation what it means to value and protect a person in all their identities receiving care,” said Kat Sánchez, Policy Manager, Bold Futures NM.

“Tewa Women United is incredibly excited to see New Mexico lead the way in ensuring that all people have access to the life-saving healthcare they need in order to live full and authentic lives, especially in rural and Indigenous communities who have historically lacked that access,” said Heaven Lee Kim, Reproductive Justice Coordinator for Tewa Women United.


#### Recent Posts

*  [Governor appoints Rebecca Roose as Natural Resources Trustee](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/06/05/governor-appoints-rebecca-roose-as-natural-resources-trustee/)  * [U.S. Supreme Court approves Rio Grande compact settlement – Agreement ends 13-year interstate dispute](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/05/28/u-s-supreme-court-approves-rio-grande-compact-settlement-agreement-ends-13-year-interstate-dispute/)  * [Health care loan repayment expands to address doctor shortage – Record expansion part of strategy to add health providers in NM](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/05/26/health-care-loan-repayment-expands-to-address-doctor-shortage-record-expansion-part-of-strategy-to-add-health-providers-in-nm/) * [Governor declares statewide drought and severe fire conditions – Agencies will coordinate community and water protection efforts](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/05/20/governor-declares-statewide-drought-and-severe-fire-conditions-agencies-will-coordinate-community-and-water-protection-efforts/)    * [Governor Lujan Grisham leads trade mission to Japan](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/05/11/governor-lujan-grisham-leads-trade-mission-to-japan/)

## Press Release Archive

* [June 2026](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/06/) (1) * [May 2026](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/05/) (6) * [April 2026](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/04/) (5) * [March 2026](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/03/) (10) * [February 2026](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/02/) (21) * [January 2026](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/01/) (10) * [December 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/12/) (7) * [November 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/11/) (6) * [October 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/10/) (11) * [September 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/09/) (11) * [August 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/08/) (7) * [July 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/07/) (9) * [June 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/06/) (10) * [May 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/05/) (4) * [April 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/04/) (12) * [March 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/03/) (13) * [February 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/02/) (11) * [January 2025](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/01/) (11) * [December 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/12/) (5) * [November 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/11/) (9) * [October 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/10/) (10) * [September 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/09/) (16) * [August 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/08/) (9) * [July 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/07/) (13) * [June 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/06/) (17) * [May 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/05/) (5) * [April 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/04/) (9) * [March 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/03/) (13) * [February 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/02/) (19) * [January 2024](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2024/01/) (13) * [December 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/12/) (10) * [November 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/11/) (8) * [October 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/10/) (13) * [September 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/09/) (6) * [August 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/08/) (9) * [July 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/07/) (16) * [June 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/06/) (19) * [May 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/05/) (17) * [April 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/04/) (11) * [March 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/03/) (24) * [February 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/02/) (23) * [January 2023](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/01/) (23) * [December 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/12/) (14) * [November 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/11/) (17) * [October 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/10/) (19) * [September 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/09/) (22) * [August 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/08/) (26) * [July 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/07/) (27) * [June 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/06/) (23) * [May 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/05/) (15) * [April 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/04/) (17) * [March 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/03/) (21) * [February 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/02/) (25) * [January 2022](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/01/) (18) * [December 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/12/) (10) * [November 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/11/) (7) * [October 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/10/) (8) * [September 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/09/) (23) * [August 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/08/) (14) * [July 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/07/) (12) * [June 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/06/) (18) * [May 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/05/) (14) * [April 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/04/) (24) * [March 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/03/) (15) * [February 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/02/) (17) * [January 2021](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2021/01/) (33) * [December 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/12/) (33) * [November 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/11/) (38) * [October 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/10/) (42) * [September 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/09/) (43) * [August 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/08/) (39) * [July 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/07/) (42) * [June 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/06/) (47) * [May 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/05/) (47) * [April 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/04/) (39) * [March 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/03/) (62) * [February 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/02/) (40) * [January 2020](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/01/) (15) * [December 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/12/) (16) * [November 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/11/) (6) * [October 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/10/) (6) * [September 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/09/) (11) * [August 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/08/) (9) * [July 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/07/) (14) * [June 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/06/) (7) * [May 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/05/) (12) * [April 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/04/) (12) * [March 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/03/) (19) * [February 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/02/) (29) * [January 2019](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/01/) (14) * [December 2018](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2018/12/) (1)

### Categories

* [2022 Wildfires](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022-wildfires/) * [COVID-19](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/covid-19/) * [Early Childhood Education](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/early-childhood-education/) * [Legislative Updates](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/legislative-updates/) * [Press Releases](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/press-releases/) * [Public Safety](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/public-safety/) * [Uncategorized](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/uncategorized/)

## Contact

The Office of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham is located on the fourth floor of the New Mexico State Capitol in Room 400.

Address: 490 Old Santa Fe Trail Room 400 Santa Fe, NM 87501

Phone: (505) 476-2200 Toll free: (833) 520-0020

## Quick Links

* [Open Positions](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/apply/open-positions/) * [Boards and Commissions](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/apply/boards-and-commissions/) * [Judicial and District Attorney Posts](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/judicial-and-district-attorney-posts/)

## Flag Status