SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Saturday was visited in the Governor’s Office by more than 100 advocates and health care providers who presented her with more than 10,000 signed petitions from New Mexicans in every state county expressing their support for House Bill 51.

The legislation, co-sponsored by five Democrats, would strike outdated language from state statute that makes performing an abortion a criminal act, a statute rendered unenforceable by the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade.

“On top of being a dehumanizing slap in the face of a woman’s most basic rights, and on top of criminalizing medical professionals, this old statute is arguably unconstitutional,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said. “I’m very happy so many New Mexicans agree that it’s time we cut this backward language from our books; that it’s time we express our full support for a woman’s autonomy; that it’s time we express our full support for our health care providers. I thank the providers and supporters who visited with me today, and I look forward to the passage of House Bill 51.”