FEATURED EVENTS

SANTA FE

WEDNESDAY MAY 1

4:30-7:30 PM

Santa Fe: Dia de los trabajadores/Internacional Workers Day

For more information, (505) 424-7832.
Sponsored by Somos Un Pueblo Unido's Worker Center

LEARN MORE & RSVP HERE

ALBUQUERQUE

WEDNESDAY MAY 1

5:00-8:00 PM

at Casa Barelas, 1024 4th St SW, ABQ, NM

Dia Internacional del Trabajador/ International Workers Day

For more information call El CENTRO to: (505) 246-1627
Save the Date Flyer: https://tinyurl.com/y36xt6ne

LEARN MORE & RSVP HERE

ALBUQUERQUE

WEDNESDAY MAY 1

at 7600 Southern Ave SE, Albuquerque, NM

May Day 2019: We Can Save Ourselves

LEARN MORE & RSVP HERE

THURSDAY MAY 16

5:30-8:00 PM

at The Annex @SFUAD, 1600 St. Michaels Dr, Santa Fe, NM

Resourcing Our Communities Panel

FULL LIST OF LOCAL EVENTS

SUBMIT EVENTS TO INFO@EARTHCARENM.ORG

FEATURED EVENTS

MONDAY APRIL 15

11:00 AM

at New Mexico State Capitol, Room 307, 490 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87501

Field Hearing in Santa Fe on Chaco Canyon
and Other Current Events w/ Representative Deb Haaland, Senators Tom Udall & Martin Heinrich

On April 15, the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, will host a field hearing in Santa Fe, N.M., titled Oil and Gas Development: Impacts on Air Pollution and Sacred Sites. Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Vice Chair Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) and Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.), Chair of the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, and Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) are hosting and convening this session. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) will be among those testifying. Ahead of the hearing, Committee lawmakers will meet with local environmental advocates, tour Chaco Culture National Historical Park, and hear from experts, elected tribal and local officials. This is a big deal for our state! If you want to participate and learn more about this event, it will be live streamed. (Source: Environmental Public Health New Mexico)

MORE INFORMATION HERE:  website for the House Natural Resources Committee.

THURSDAY APRIL 18

5:30 - 8:00 PM

at The Screen, 1600 St Michaels Dr, Santa Fe, NM 87505

Equitable Community Engagement Panel

This will be the first panel in our series for our “Nuestro Corazón: Respecting the Land, Healing our People, Transforming our Future” campaign.

These panels are designed to support Chainbreaker's organizing work to create a community-led “People’s Plan” for the city-
owned former campus of the Santa Fe University of Art and Design (SFUAD) and policy recommendations that guard against displacement in the surrounding areas. Earth Care is one of over a dozen organizations and groups working on the People's Plan.

#chainbreakersantafe#developmentwithoutdisplacement

LEARN MORE & RSVP HERE

Then on... THURSDAY APRIL 25

5:30 - 8:00

at Santa Fe Art Institute, 1600 St Michaels Dr, Santa Fe, NM 87505

Housing Is a Human Right Panel 

More information to come....

SATURDAY APRIL 27

9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

at Española Healing Foods Oasis, 313 N Paseo de Onate, Española, NM

Community Opening Day at the Garden

Community Opening Day at the Española Healing Foods Oasis!

Join Tewa Women United as they begin a new season in the garden

- opening prayers and welcome
- honoring community partners and sponsors
- garden planting and maintenance
- introducing the EHFO Seed Library Project!
- sharing food

Bring: Sun hat, sturdy shoes for working on the earth, water bottle, and an open heart!

LEARN MORE & RSVP HERE

The 60 day session saw over 1,300 bills introduced in the House and Senate! Below is a list of just a handful of good, progressive pieces of legislation that passed through both chambers and are currently on the Governor's desk. You can see the list of legislation she has already signed HERE. 

For more information on how the session played out, key legislators who helped forward or roll back good pieces of legislation, check out Retake Our Democracy's website. 

Education ✔

• SB288 - SAFE SCHOOLS FOR ALL STUDENTS ACT: Safe Schools for All Students Act would require current bullying prevention policy in New Mexico School Code be updated to include protection of sexual orientation and gender identity, improved reporting procedures, and use of uniform definitions. This will help ensure safe, supportive learning environments for all New Mexico's students! (Source: EQNM)
• HB5 - PUBLIC EDUCATION CHANGES: Bill drops the state’s A-F system of grading schools.
• SB2 - EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION & CARE DEPT BILL

Indigenous Rights ✔

• HB100 -  RENAMING COLUMBUS DAY TO INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S DAY

• HB278 - MISSING & MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN: Establishes a task force to help address of the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women.

Worker's Rights ✔

• SB437 - RAISE MINIMUM WAGE & CREATE SEPARATE ONE: Minimum Wage Increase bill passed to bring New Mexico's minimum wage to $12.00/hour by 2023. There was a stronger minimum wage bill introduced by Representative Miguel Garcia, however, that bill (HB46) was not pushed through in the Senate. 
• SB85 - DOMESTIC SERVICE IN MINIMUM WAGE ACT: Would add domestic and home care workers for protection under NM's wage and labor laws. They were previously exempted from these laws. 

• HB2 - GENERAL APPROPRIATION ACT OF 2019: Contains funding for the Dept of Workforce Solution to hire 3 additional wage theft investigators. (Source: Somos Un Pueblo Unido)

Voter's Rights ✔

• SB672 - PUBLIC PEACE, HEALTH, SAFETY & WELFARE and EARLY & AUTO VOTER REGISTRATION: Essentially Automatic & Same Day Voter Registration will ensure, beginning in 2021, New Mexicans will be automatically registered to vote and can register or update their registration up to and including voting day, removing some of the barriers there are to cast a ballot in NM.

• HB55 - AGREEMENT TO ELECT PRESIDENT BY POPULAR VOTE:  NM joins the national compact with a goal to elect the president by popular vote. For the Electoral College to be junked, states with a collective total of 270 electoral votes would have to join the movement. Our state contributes five electoral votes to that goal.

LGBTQ+ Rights & Civil Rights ✔

• HB388 - GENDER-FREE RESTROOMS: This bill require single-occupant restrooms in New Mexico's public places have gender-neutral signage. This means NM's bathrooms will be safer and more inclusive for people with disabilities, families, and our LGBTQ+ community. (Source: EQNM)
• SB227 - ADDITIONAL UNLAWFUL DISCRIMINATION PRACTICES: This bill updates the Human Rights Act to ensure that no business can discriminate against employees on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in the workplace (Source: EQNM)
• SB20 - SEX DESIGNATION ON VITAL RECORDS: New Mexico residents will be able to correct sex designation on their birth certificates and other vital records without having to undergo expensive, invasive, unnecessary, and discriminatory surgery. The bill allows for the designation of M, F, and X. (Source: EQNM)

• HB135 - SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVOR'S BILL OF RIGHTS

Healthcare ✔

• HB89 - HEALTH COVERAGE FOR CONTRACEPTION: This bill expands access to coverage for both men and women without cost sharing for vasectomies and external condoms, over the counter contraception, and allows for the dispensation of six months worth of contraceptives at once. This bill expands the rights of New Mexicans to make their own personal healthcare decisions on their own terms.

Environment ✔

• HB204 - HEALTHY SOIL ACT: Promotes soil health stewardship by creating a program to provide ongoing trainings and facilitate workshops, grants, and educating the public about the importance of soil health stewardship. 

• HB291 - EFFICIENT USE OF ENERGY ACT CHANGES: Removes disincentives for utilities to invest in energy efficiency, the cheapest and most effective way to reduce our climate impact. It requires utilities to carry out programs that benefit rate payers like home energy audits, etc.

• HB651 - WATER DATA ACT: Improves water-data integration, transparency, and tools for state water planning. Allows state agencies to collaborate on water data.

• SB462 - CREATE OUTDOOR RECREATION DIVISION: Creates an Office of Outdoor Recreation and Outdoor Equity Fund. This bill creates an infrastructure and plans for getting all NM kids outside.

• SB228 - WILDLIFE CORRIDORS ACT: Calls for state agencies to create a plan to identify and maintain areas important for wildlife movement, especially concerning risky highway crossings and dangerous road segments.

• HB440 - SOLAR ENERGY IMPROVEMENT ASSESSMENTS: Improves the framework for counties and cities to work together in order to pay the upfront costs of for solar for individuals, which is then paid back through property tax assessments.  

• HB521 - PRC APPLICATION FOR VEHICLE ELECTRICITY: This clears the way for companies to install EV-charging stations and requires investor-owned utilities to develop transportation electrification plans. That will increase access to EV charging infrastructure in the state, a critical step in accelerating adoption of electric vehicles. 

• SB553 - OIL CONSERVATION COMMISSION FEES: This establishes rules to create a new schedule of administrative filing fees, application fees, and permit fees, helping to increase badly needed funding to the Oil Conservation Division, which regulates oil and gas drilling in New Mexico. 

• SB76 - PROHIBIT COYOTE KILLING CONTESTS: Ends coyote killing contests that award prizes for participants who kill the most, the largest and, often, the smallest coyotes.

Criminal Justice Reform  ✔

• SB536 -  SUPPLEMENTAL SPENDING BILL: Includes $664,000 for LEAD in four NM jurisdictions (Santa Fe, Doña Ana, Rio Arriba  and Bernalillo Counties) (Source: Drug Policy Alliance)

• SB32 - DRUG POSSESSION AS A MISDEMEANOR: Decriminalizes ½ ounce or less of marijuana and decriminalizes all drug paraphernalia.

• HB342 - OMNIBUS CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM: Comprehensive reform bill focusing on accountability and treatment to both prevent crime and successfully reintegrate criminal actors back into society. Creates a behavioral health framework to assist incarcerated juveniles and adults with the transition back into the community; prohibits the arrest of anyone receiving treatment for a drug or alcohol overdose; and extends the Good Samaritan law to those who report overdoses and much more. (Source: NMSAFE)

• HB 364 - SOLITARY CONFINEMENT REFORM: Bans the use of restricted housing on children and pregnant women. Restricts the use of solitary confinement on people with a serious mental illness. Requires all detention facilities in New Mexico to report on their use of solitary confinement. New Mexico still has one of the highest rates of solitary confinement in the nation.

• HB370 - EXPUNGEMENT OF CRIMINAL RECORD: Passing expungement reform is a smart solution for public safety. Removing barriers to good jobs, safe housing, and education for the thousands of New Mexicans living with a prior arrest or conviction record will provide people with the opportunities they need to move on with their lives. (Source: NMSAFE)

• SB96 - CONVICTION INFO ON JOB APPLICATIONS (Ban the Box): Prohibits private employers that use a written employment application from inquiring into the applicant’s conviction history on the initial job application but does not prohibit an employer from screening an applicant’s criminal history later in the application process. Viewing a job applicant with a record as more than just a checked box is critical to leveling the playing field for the 70 million Americans with an arrest or conviction history. (Source: NMSAFE)

• SB385 - OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING FOR PEOPLE WITH FELONIES: Amends the Uniform Licensing Act to prohibit denial of professional licensure to an otherwise qualified individual on the sole basis of a previous felony conviction unless the conviction was for a crime related to the profession for which licensure is sought. (Source: Drug Policy Alliance)

• HB267 - OMNIBUS CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM (Task Force Recommendations): Bill would codify the recommendations of the HJM19 Criminal Justice Task Force passed during the 2018 legislative session.  (Source: NMSAFE)

• HB56 - PROSTITUTION AS A DELINQUENT ACT: Recognizes that children engaged in prostitution are commonly victims of human trafficking and provides a mechanism for such children to receive treatment and services rather than bringing them into the juvenile justice system. (Source: NMSAFE)

• HB564 - PROBATION AND PAROLE REFORM: This bill will alleviate prison overcrowding in New Mexico by reforming the use of probation and parole in our state. It will also save New Mexico money because there's no need to lock up people who don't pose a threat to public safety. (Source: NMSAFE)

• SB406 - MEDICAL CANNABIS CHANGES: Establishes civil protections for patients for schooling, child-custody, and related to medical care, including receiving an organ transplant. Protects patients who are parents from CYFD intervention solely because of Medical Cannabis Program participation; establishes employment protections for patients and prevents employers from taking adverse actions against patients for their lawful use of medical cannabis; creates a multi-year registry ID card that is good for three years; allows the Department of Health (DOH) to license onsite consumption of medical cannabis as long as the area is accessible only to patients and caregivers, is not publicly visible; updates medical qualifying conditions listed in statute to include the 15 conditions approved by the DOH since 2007; improves access for MCP patients living on NM Indian tribe, pueblo, or nation land by allowing the DOH to license personal production at alternative addresses, and ensures that the Department will annually evaluate how well the program is meeting the needs of medical cannabis patients in rural areas and on tribal land. It also permits DOH to establish licenses for any activity deemed necessary by the department and directs the agency to develop rules for licensing, and health and safety of medical cannabis products by the end of the year. (Source: Drug Policy Alliance)

• SB204 - MEDICAL CANNABIS in SCHOOLS: Allows for the possession, storage and administration of medical cannabis by authorized adults to students in a school setting. (Source: Drug Policy Alliance)

• SB221 - OPOID OVERDOSE PATIENT COUNSELING: Requires health care providers under certain circumstances to advise patients on the risks of overdose and about naloxone. A health care provider who prescribes pain medication for a patient shall co-prescribe naloxone if the pain medication prescribed is at least a five-day supply. (Source: Drug Policy Alliance)

Other ✔

• SB278 - DRIVER'S LICENSE CHANGES: This bill will make it easier to for all New Mexicans to get the authorization they need to drive. SB278 will do away with unnecessary requirements that have burdened New Mexicans for far too long.

• SB8 - FIREARM SALE BACKGROUND CHECK: Expands background checks on gun sales. Already signed into law by Governor Lujan Grisham.
• HB150 - INSTALLMENT & SMALL LOAN CHANGES: Cleans up loopholes in state law by mandating effective data reporting to the state and providing consistency so all New Mexico families can receive fairer loans. (Source: NM Center on Law & Poverty)

• HB657 - ABQ AFFORDABLE HOUSING STUDY: The bill will grant $150,000 for an affordable housing study in an effort to study the effects of homelessness on the Albuquerque population.

• SB328 - ORDERS OF PROTECTION & FIREARM OWNERSHIP: Bill will prohibit individuals subject to a protection order in a domestic abuse case from possessing a firearm.

Below, we have listed bills that have passed that we consider failures. Of course, this isn't a done deal until Governor Lujan Grisham signs the bills. She has until April 5 to act on all bills. You can contact her office via phone (505) 476-2200 or email here. 

PROBLEMATIC BILLS PASSED:

• • HB546 - PRODUCED WATER & OCD FINES: This bill would open the door to using fracking waste in rivers, streams, and crops. Produced water is "recycled" fracking water and would allow industry to sell the water they have contaminated with fracking chemicals for agriculture.  The bill also allows Oil Conservation Division to fine operators for violating laws and safety regulations. The bill also reduces fines and the cap on fines.

  • SB489 - ENERGY TRANSITION ACT: 

While there are some positive aspects of this bill -- namely that it creates a Carbon-Free Energy Standard in New Mexico that increases the renewable portfolio requirements to 80% by 2040 for the investor-owned utilities and 80% by 2050 for the cooperative co-ops and that it acknowledged the impact of transition on local communities and attempted to soften the blow by providing transition funds and worker retraining. Most of these funds will be allocated to the Economic Development and Workforce development departments but a smaller percentage of funds were designated for the Department of Indian Affairs as a result of the Grassroots Indigenous Leaders Network organizing in opposition to the bill pointing out, among other things, the lack of consultation with impacted indigenous communities who have borne the brunt of health, economic, and opportunity costs from the plant for the last 40 plus years. Senator Bennie Shendo from Jemez Pueblo introduced amendments to include the Department of Indian Affairs.

• • The weaknesses, in a nutshell - have to do with the fact that it reinforces and strengthens utility control over our energy future, reduces the oversight and authority of our regulatory agency through concessions made to the utilities in the process, the process itself, in terms of inclusion - especially consultation with impacted indigenous communities, and the incredible missed opportunity it represents. 

     

    Specific problems with the bill include:

    $1.3 Billion from PNM ratepayers in a “non-bypassable” charge on our monthly bill for 25 years. NM Legislature's own financial report states that traditional regulatory resolution would be cheaper for ratepayers. Demonstrable evidence points to a $400M premium with SB489 compared to traditional PRC ratemaking. PNM’s making an end run around the regulatory agency to the legislature. 

  • PNM to recover money from ratepayers to cover hundreds of millions of dollars in costs associated the Four Corners [coal-fired] Power Plant and San Juan Generating Station without any PRC review. (“no order of the commission shall disallow recovery of any undepreciated investment or decommissioning costs”, SB 489, p. 82)

  • No corporate accountability for “imprudent” investments

  • PNM ownership of replacement power through preferential location and other requirements independent power producers will be unable to meet - PNM concurs with this assessment, telling its investors that they expect to receive $450 million

  • "Carbon Free" rather than a true renewable portfolio standard that counts nuclear toward requirements. This is an enormous lost opportunity to catalyze and diversify New Mexico's renewable energy market. Among those expressing concern over this problem in the bill were the All Pueblo Council of Governors, the Coalition of Cities (City of Santa Fe, City of Las Cruces, City of Albuquerque), and the Grassroots Indigenous Leaders Network.

  • Allows monopoly utilities to count out-of-state renewable energy credits toward requirements (robbing New Mexico of renewable energy jobs)

  • Allows utilities to include nuclear and hydro-power as “carbon-free” energy standards

  • Run-around existing regulatory requirements and oversight for replacement power acquisition and treatment of stranded assets - effectively eliminating these pesky standards moving forward.

  • $30 million of clean up costs are covered 100% by ratepayers and not a penny from PNM

  • Lack of consultation and engagement with directly impacted communities (indigenous communities on the frontline of the plant's operation, local residents, local workers, low-income, middle-income, and fixed-income New Mexico residents who will be hit by the rise in rates and advocates and agencies that represent them -- including the municipalities). 

  • A great concern with SB 489 is that the regulatory tools that we have historically counted upon to protect ourselves from rate increases, environmental damage, and other exploitative maneuvers by the big utilities have now been weakened. We are very worried that PNM will now be able to pursue the gas and nuclear investments they identified in their Integrated Resource Plan of record and also presented to their shareholders. Efforts were made to insert the regulatory standards currently on the books - "least cost among feasible alternatives", etc. and were rejected. Instead, new, weaker standards are created by the bill.

• HB2 - GENERAL APPROPRIATION ACT OF 2019: This bill contains language from a bill form 2018 (HB161) which would have preempted local governments from enacting ordinances to regulate the cultivation and production of seeds. This dangerous addition grants seed regulation solely to the NM Department of Agriculture and would take away city, county, and local power to create GE (genetically engineered) Free Zones. (Source: Tewa Women United)

The fight is not over! The bills listed below did not get through the State Capitol this year, but there is hope for coming sessions even next year during the 30 day session. The Interim Session starts in July and the interim committees will be having open meetings. 

FAILURES BILLS NOT PASSED

• SB405 - MEDICAID BUY-IN: Bill did not pass, however, the legislature approved funding to further study and begin development of a Medicaid Buy-in coverage option. (Source: NM Together for Healthcare)

• SB159 - PROHIBIT CERTAIN LEGAL DEFENSES: This bill would have curtailed the use of the panic defense for murder or other violent crime cases in New Mexico. Under the bill, a person's sexual orientation or gender identity could not be claimed as a mitigating factor or provocation for a reduced murder charge. (Source: EQNM)

• HB51 - DECRIMINALIZATION OF ABORTION: The Senate failed to repeal an outdated and dangerous statute that criminalizes doctors who provide abortion care. Though this law is currently unenforceable, this failure to act proactively may lead to a crisis of care if the U.S. Supreme Court decides to gut Roe v. Wade.

• HB57 - RESTORE VOTING RIGHTS FOR PEOPLE WITH FELONIES: Would have restored voting rights to people with felony convictions.

• HB356 - CANNABIS REGULATION ACT: a bill that would create a system to tax and regulate cannabis for responsible recreational use by adults 21 and over.
• HJR1 - PERMANENT FUNDS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD: would have allocated 1% from the Land Grant Permanent Fund for early childhood education after voters approve a constitutional amendment allowing for a 1 percent increase in the take from the Land Grant Permanent Fund. It would create a reliable funding stream for early education so that the state does not have to rely solely on annual revenues. (Source: Invest in Kids Now!)
• SB196 - NO RESOURCES FOR FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAW: Would have prohibited use of state and local resources for federal immigration law. 
• HB141 - STATE DISCLOSURE OF SENSITIVE INFO: Would have protected every New Mexicans’ sensitive personal information. 
• HB624 - IMMIGRATION DETENTION FACILITIES ACT

• HB295 - HEALTH SECURITY ACT

FEATURED EVENTS

SATURDAY MARCH 30

10:00 AM

Starting at National Hispanic Cultural Center, 1701 4th Street SW, ABQ, NM

2019 Cesar Chavez Day Marcha y Fiesta - ABQ

LEARN MORE & RSVP HERE

Poder Familiar February - Febrero 2019!
Inicia 1o de Febrero a las 6pm
En Zona del Sol (Jaguar y Country Club) 

January 2019 - Green Fire Times

Once again, we have partnered with the Green Fire Times to curate the January issue. This year it is themed around “Seizing This Moment.” After two issues on featuring stories of community resilience in the face of adversity, it is time to shift gears as we face a year of opportunity in New Mexico. Below is every op-ed featured in January.

2019 New Mexico Legislative Session 

January 15 - March 17

For those of you new to the legislative process in New Mexico, there are a few things you should know. Our legislature is the lawmaking branch of the NM state government. It is made up of two bodies: the House of Representatives and the Senate. You can find out who your legislators are on this website. You can also log into your voter profile on the NM Secretary of State website here. 

The Legislature meets in a "long session" every odd-numbered year. A long session is 60 days. Since 2019 is an odd-numbered year, we will have a 60 day session from January 15 to March 16, 2019. On even-numbered years, we hold a short, 30 day session, which is limited to fiscal matters, items specified by the Governor and bills passed in the previous session that were vetoed by the governor. This year we are expecting thousands of bills to be introduced given we have a new governor and a slate of new representatives and senators. Every legislator needs to hear from their constituents, AKA ALL OF YOU, this session. We must hold our legislators to their word and ensure that they are committed to good policy for our state and its residents. Below are a list of legislative advocacy trainings that will give you the resources and tools to speak and advocate for the issues you care about in the realm of social and environmental justice. 2019 will be a HUGE year to step up and speak out to enact change in our state. 

There are a number of very important bills that have already been pre-filed at the NM State Legislature. Some include bills like the House Joint Resolution 1 would draw money at the rate of 1 percent per year from the state’s Land Grant Permanent Fund to support early childhood education programs & House Bill 84 which would ensure automatic registration of voters when they apply for a driver’s license or license renewal at the Motor Vehicle Department. Check out the rest in this recent article from the Santa Fe New Mexican! You can see all pre-filed bills here. 

LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY TRAININGS FOR NEW MEXICANS

January 8-17

Sierra Club - Rio Grande Chapter Legislative Advocacy/lobbying training events

Gallup: January 8, 6-8pm, Work In Beauty House, 113 East Logan

Santa Fe: January 9, 6-8pm, Jaguar Road Library, 6599 Jaguar Drive

Silver City: January 9, 6:30-8:30 pm, WNMU Student Memorial Center, 3rd floor seminar room

Las Cruces: January 9, 6-8pm, SWEC, 275 North Downtown Mall

Aztec: Thursday, January 10, 6-8 pM The Step Back Inn, 123 W Aztec Blvd

Albuquerque: January 17, 6-8pm, St. Mark’s Episcopal, 431 Richmond Pl NE

Taos – Date and location TBA

Training description: The urgency couldn’t be greater. A deeply committed alliance of environmental, heath, community, and social justice organizations has come together in the effort to pass game-changing legislation for the health of our planet, now! Your advocacy during and leading up to the 2019 NM legislative session can make the difference between a genuinely progressive and effective environmental platform or more of the same. This is our chance to enact state-level protections that counteract those being stripped by the Trump administration.

Our alliance is developing advocacy teams to empower members and give our bold agenda the best chance of success. We will help you every step of the way so you are empowered, informed, and prepared to play  a key role in championing climate, water, wildlife and land protection legislation. 

The events are co-hosted by the following groups: 350 New Mexico, Adelante Progressive Caucus, Amigos Bravos, Climate Defenders New Mexico, Conservation Voters New Mexico, Defenders of Wildlife, Earth Care, Environment New Mexico, Environmental Defense Fund, Environmental Justice Team of Unitarian Universalist Church of Santa Fe, Gila Conservation Coalition, Gila Resources Information Project, Indivisible Nob Hill, New Energy Economy, New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light, New Mexico Wild, NM Solar Energy Association, Sierra Club, SunPower by Positive Energy Solar, Union of Concerned Scientists, Vote Solar, Western Environmental Law Center, WildEarth Guardians

For more information and to RSVP click HERE

MONDAY JANUARY 21

Earth Care is hosting: MLK Day Gathering - Setting Our Policy Agenda - Let's do this!

Monday, January 21,  9:00-2:30 PM

New Mexico State Legislature, 490 Old Santa Fe Trl, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Training description: TWe'll dig in to opportunities for public policy wins in the 2019 legislative session around our issue areas of:
1) Education Transformation
2) Climate Justice
3) Social Justice
4) Equitable Community Development

We'll also join the NAACP for their annual MLK Day commemoration event from 12-1 down in the rotunda. Though this meeting is designed for our Earth Care leadership - our youth and parent leaders, staff, and board - partners and allies are welcome and encouraged to attend.

For more information and to RSVP click HERE

THURSDAY JANUARY 3

Retake Our Democracy Legislative Advocacy 

Thursday, January 3, 6:00-8:00pm

Center for Progress & Justice, 1420 Cerrillos Rd, Santa Fe, NM

Description: A crucial meeting in readying for the Roundhouse session that begins Jan 15.

Retake Our Democracy also has regular meetings on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month from 4:30-6:30pm at New Energy Economy Offices, 343 E Alameda. Subscribe to email updates for notification of the next Legislative Advocacy Meeting. 

Retake's Personal Action Tool Kit is available HERE.

THURSDAY JANUARY 10

Educators’ Legislative Preview

Thursday, January 10, 4:30 PM

ATF - Albuquerque Teachers Federation, 530 Jefferson St NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87108

Description: This year’s session which begins January 15th offers lots of opportunities for progress in creating safer schools for LGBTQ students and creating an educational system that better serves all students. EQNM and ATF will let us know what’s in the works and how we can support these initiatives.

For more information and to RSVP click HERE 

FRIDAY JANUARY 11

Policy Analysis Meeting - Fight For Our Lives ABQ

Friday, January 11, 4:30 - 6:00 PM

First Unitarian Church of Albuquerque, 3701 Carlisle Blvd NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87110

Description: At our last meeting we went through all the bills relating to gun control and behavioral health services currently being proposed by the New Mexico state legislature and strategically narrowed them down to six individual bills that we would like to prioritize this legislative session. At this meeting we will do an in-depth analysis of each bill we chose to prioritize in order to better prepare ourselves for lobbying to lawmakers. Open to all community members, food provided.

For more information and to RSVP click HERE

SATURDAY JANUARY 12

2019 NM Legislative Action Expo

Saturday, January 12, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union 412, 510 San Pedro Dr SE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87108

Description: At our last meeting we went through all the bills relating to gun control and behavioral health services currently being proposed by the New Mexico state legislature and strategically narrowed them down to six individual bills that we would like to prioritize this legislative session. At this meeting we will do an in-depth analysis of each bill we chose to prioritize in order to better prepare ourselves for lobbying to lawmakers. Open to all community members, food provided.

For more information and to RSVP click HERE

JANUARY 14-16

Early Childhood Public Policy Institute

Description: Parents, Early Childhood Professionals & Advocates- Join us for the 9th Annual Early Childhood Public Policy Institute at the Sage Inn in Santa Fe from January 14-16, 2019. REGISTRATION IS FREE AND REQUIRED AND are due by Friday, January 11, 2019. Link below in Tickets. We are OFFERING SCHOLARSHIPS to cover lodging, travel, food and substitute reimbursements. APPLICATIONS are due by Thursday, January 3, 2019. For more information or if you have any questions, please contact Baji Rankin at (505) 243-5437 or baji@nmaeyc.org.

For more information and to RSVP click HERE 

THURSDAY JANUARY 17

Asian American Day at The Legislature

Thursday, January 17, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

New Mexico State Legislature, 490 Old Santa Fe Trl, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Description:Join us for Asian American Day on January 17 at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. This event is held every two years during the long session of the Legislature. Thanks to Senator Mimi Stewart for sponsoring the Memorial. We'll have speakers and performing groups to commemorate the day.

For more information and to RSVP click HERE 

ACLU Legislative Advocacy Workshops on Immigration, Reproductive Rights and Criminal Justice Reform

For more information and to RSVP click HERE 

MONDAY JANUARY 28

JUST TRANSITION CONVERGENCE & CLEAN ENERGY CONFERENCE

Santa Fe: January 28, 9:30AM-2:00PM

9:30AM-2:00PM Unitarian Universalist Church,

3:00-9:00 PM Temple Beth Shalom, 205 E Barcelona Rd, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505

Conference Description:  The New Mexico Clean Energy Conference is the day before Clean Energy Day at the Roundhouse, with the goal of helping participants meaningfully engage with legislation that will help us curb the climate crisis in New Mexico. The event features two speakers: Goldman Environmental Prize winner Destiny Watford, who in High School successfully lead a movement stop a trash burning incinerator in her Baltimore, MD neighborhood, as well as Laura Paskus, an award-winning environmental journalist for the NM Political Report and correspondent for New Mexico In Focus.

For more information and to RSVP click HERE

SPECIAL DAYS AT THE LEGISLATURE

View full list of special dates at the Legislature HERE. Below are days that we would like to highlight and share with all of you. During the session, 

TUESDAY JANUARY 15, 9:00 AM-2:00 PM

Children and Youth Day 2019 

New Mexico State Legislature, 490 Old Santa Fe Trl, Santa Fe, New Mexico

LEARN MORE & RSVP HERE

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 16, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Witness for the People hosted by Interfaith Power and Light

New Mexico State Legislature, 490 Old Santa Fe Trl, Santa Fe, New Mexico

LEARN MORE & RSVP HERE

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 22, ALL DAY

Deconstructing Racism New Mexico Day

State Capitol/Rotunda, 490 Old Santa Fe Trl, Santa Fe, New Mexico

LEARN MORE & RSVP HERE

THURSDAY JANUARY 24, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

NM Food & Farms Day and School Nutrition Day at the Legislature

State Capitol/Rotunda, 490 Old Santa Fe Trl, Santa Fe, New Mexico

MONDAY JANUARY 28, 

Immigrant Rights Day of Action

New Mexico State Legislature, 490 Old Santa Fe Trl, Santa Fe, New Mexico

LEARN MORE & RSVP HERE

TUESDAY JANUARY 29, 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Clean Energy Day at the Roundhouse

New Mexico State Legislature, 490 Old Santa Fe Trl, Santa Fe, New Mexico

LEARN MORE & RSVP HERE

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 2, 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Atrisco Land Rights Council, Pueblitos Flood Recovery

Rotunda/State Capitol, 490 Old Santa Fe Trl, Santa Fe, New Mexico

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 5, 10:30 AM- 12:00 PM

One Thousand Kid March

Rotunda/State Capitol, 490 Old Santa Fe Trl, Santa Fe, New Mexico

LEARN MORE & RSVP HERE

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 5, 9:00 AM- 1:00 PM

Acequia Day

Rotunda/State Capitol, 490 Old Santa Fe Trl, Santa Fe, New Mexico

LEARN MORE & RSVP HERE

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 5, 8:00 AM- 12:00 PM

New Mexico GRADS, NM GRADS Day

State Capitol, 490 Old Santa Fe Trl, Santa Fe, New Mexico

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 7, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Central NM College Day

State Capitol, 490 Old Santa Fe Trl, Santa Fe, New Mexico

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 8, 8:00am - Noon

New Mexico Library Association Legislative Day

State Capitol/Rotunda, 490 Old Santa Fe Trl, Santa Fe, New Mexico

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 8, 9:00 AM

2019 African-American Day at the Legislature

State Capitol/Rotunda, 490 Old Santa Fe Trl, Santa Fe, New Mexico

LEARN MORE & RSVP HERE

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 13, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Lands, Water, and Wildlife Day at the Roundhouse 

State Capitol/Rotunda, 490 Old Santa Fe Trl, Santa Fe, New Mexico

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 14, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Respect NM Women Advocacy Day

State Capitol/Rotunda, 490 Old Santa Fe Trl, Santa Fe, New Mexico

LEARN MORE & RSVP HERE

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 14, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

NM Alliance of Health Councils, Public Health Day at the Legislature - 100th Anniversary of NMDOH

State Capitol/Rotunda, 490 Old Santa Fe Trl, Santa Fe, New Mexico

LEARN MORE & RSVP HERE

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 19, 10:00AM-3:00PM

End Mass Incarceration Day of Action

State Capitol/Rotunda, 490 Old Santa Fe Trl, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Email for more info: Osmani Alcaraz-Ochoa, rochoa@aclu-nm.org