Earlier this month, the New Mexico Supreme Court denied and dismissed the effort to challenge six laws enacted in 2023.

The New Mexico Supreme Court denied and dismissed the case New Mexico Turn Around v. Maggie Toulouse Oliver on April 8. That effectively brought an end to the effort to challenge six laws including two voting rights laws, two reproductive and gender affirming care laws, one law about sexual identity and one School-Based Health Center law, to an end. 

Some conservative groups tried to challenge those laws in 2023 by circulating petitions to repeal those laws. The New Mexico state constitution allows voters to initiate petitions to attempt to repeal laws passed by the Legislature, with some exceptions, including “laws providing for the preservation of the public peace, health or safety.” The New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office said the petitions were not official and Toulouse Oliver would not approve or certify the petitions. The Attorney General did not sign any referendum petition.

A group called New Mexico Turn Around sued Toulouse Oliver but lost. The court also denied the request for oral argument on the case.

Alex Curtas, SOS spokesperson, said the Secretary of State Office is “very pleased that the Court agreed with our position on these matters that the targeted bills were not subject to the referendum process in the first place and that the SOS has authority to deny draft petitions that do not meet the requirements of law.”  

The New Mexico Department of Justice declined to comment.

A call to New Mexico Turn Around’s lawyer, Carter Harrison, was not returned.