Rebecca Dow, a House Representative from New Mexico, emphasized the importance of parental involvement in scrutinizing public school and library materials. She urged parents to take an active role in advocating for their children's education. The statement was made on X.
"XXX content in NM Public schools," said Dow. "Parents- YOU, not the government are your child's primary educator and best advocate. If you're as concerned as I am about the books in NM public schools and libraries- speak up!"
In 2025, New Mexico lawmakers pursued a balanced approach to school library content and parental involvement through Senate Bill 552. This bill would require every district to adopt and submit book-review and reconsideration policies to the Public Education Department by September 1, 2025. The proposal emerged amidst national controversies over book bans but focused on transparency and parent input rather than censorship. Supporters said that it "protects librarians" while ensuring public oversight of materials, according to KUNM and the New Mexico Public Education Department analysis.
New Mexico has reported few or no formal school book bans in 2024–2025. According to PEN America’s Index of School Book Bans for that period, the state does not appear among the 23 U.S. states and 87 districts where 6,870 titles were restricted or removed. This absence suggests that while New Mexico engages in policy debate over school materials, it remains outside the main wave of documented removals.
Neighboring states show varying levels of censorship activity. PEN America data indicate that Texas accounted for 1,781 book bans in 2024–2025—more than any other state—while Colorado and Arizona reported minimal cases and New Mexico none. This contrast highlights New Mexico’s emphasis on policy procedures and parental communication rather than mass removals.
Dow is a Republican member of the New Mexico House of Representatives for District 38, returning to office in 2025 after serving from 2016 to 2022. She previously ran for governor in 2022 and founded the nonprofit AppleTree Educational Center, which focuses on early-childhood development. Her legislative priorities include education reform and parental engagement, according to Ballotpedia and the New Mexico Legislature.
