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SB 347

HEALTH CARE WORKERS CONSCIENCE PROTECTION ACT

2025 Regular Session Introduced by David Gallegos and 3 co-sponsors

SB 347 protects New Mexico health care workers from being forced to participate in medical procedures conflicting with their religious or moral beliefs.

action postponed indefinitely
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Bill Summary · SB 347

Legislative bill overview

SB 347 would protect health care workers from being required to participate in medical procedures that conflict with their religious, moral, or ethical beliefs. The bill establishes conscience protections similar to those found in federal law, allowing workers to refuse participation without fear of employment discrimination or professional penalties.

Why is this important

This bill addresses the tension between individual conscience rights and institutional medical obligations. It affects hiring, retention, and workplace dynamics in health care settings, potentially influencing access to certain medical services and the treatment of health care workers with religious or moral objections to specific procedures.

Potential points of contention

  • Patient access concerns: Critics worry broad conscience protections could limit access to legal medical services (abortion, contraception, end-of-life care) in areas with limited provider options or institutions with religious affiliations
  • Discrimination vs. protection balance: Debate over whether the bill adequately prevents health care workers from using conscience claims to discriminate against patients based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or other characteristics
  • Scope ambiguity: Uncertainty about which procedures qualify for protection and whether protections extend to ancillary roles (scheduling, billing, facility maintenance) or only direct patient care
  • Institutional vs. individual rights: Tension between protecting individual worker conscience and health care institutions' ability to ensure service continuity and non-discrimination

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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