Representative Stefani Lord of New Mexico criticized Democrats for prioritizing funding for public broadcasting and Planned Parenthood while rejecting Republican bills on crime, Children, Youth, and Families Department (CYFD) reform, malpractice, and doctor recruitment. Instead, they advanced a vaccination measure that expanded bureaucracy. This statement was made on the social media platform X.
"Yesterday during Special Session, Democrats showed us exactly where their priorities are," said Lord, New Mexico State Representative for 22nd District (R). "$5.5 MILLION for public TV & radio. $3 MILLION for Planned Parenthood. New Mexicans deserve better."
According to the New Mexico Governor’s Office, during the special session held from October 1 to 3, lawmakers aimed to counter federal cuts and pass targeted policy bills. They approved a $162 million relief package and enacted measures concerning rural health care grants (SB1), criminal competency (SB2), and vaccine standards (SB3). However, broader reforms related to crime/CYFD, medical malpractice changes, and physician-recruitment compacts were largely stalled or deemed not germane.
The New Mexico Legislature reported that special-session appropriations included $5,560,962 from the general fund for educational television and public radio and $429,527 for tribal public broadcasting in HB1. The bill's final passage in the House was 43–24 and in the Senate was 25–13. No line-item appropriations for Planned Parenthood were included in the enacted text.
Lawmakers advanced changes to public-health authority through SB3 "Immunization Rules & Recommendations," which set state vaccine standards after committee review. LegiScan records indicate that the Senate passed it with a vote of 26–13 and the House with a vote of 43–26. The Governor signed it into law on October 8 as Chapter 5. The measure followed party-line debate over its scope but did not take immediate effect due to the absence of a two-thirds emergency vote.
Lord is a Republican member of the New Mexico House representing District 22 (Bernalillo & Torrance counties) since 2021. Her official page lists her current service and contact details. She has been active on committees across sessions and has sponsored legislation addressing crime, CYFD issues, and public health policy.
