As the 2026 Legislative Session Ends We Look to the Future
Today marks the end of the 2026 Legislative "Short Session" for New Mexico. Although our three bills did not make the agenda for the session, we stand in unity with the New Mexico Library Association and the New Mexico Rural Library Initiative, and we applaud and celebrate their efforts in getting the General Obligation Bonds and the Rural Library Endowment passed through HB 248 and HB 2, respectively.
While we would have liked to see more funds go into this year's Rural Library Endowment, we look forward to continuing our advocacy work with NMRLI.
The Freedom to Read New Mexico Coalition has ambitious plans as we look forward to the 2027 NM Legislative session. We are actively recruiting legislators as potential cosponsors for the bills and will pursue cosponsorship aggressively after the November general election. We are wrapping up and debriefing as a team this spring, and plan to head into the summer and fall with a series of visits and events throughout the state to raise awareness and support for Freedom to Read New Mexico through widespread, grassroots advocacy.
Thank you all so very much for your hard work and care throughout the 2026 Legislative Session. We will see you at the screening and panel for the documentary The Librarians at the Albuquerque International District Library on 2/24, and will return with next steps on our coalition's movements in March or April.
Yours in truth and freedom,
Kit Rosewater, Chair