It's been described as "the most radical abortion bill in the country," and it's up for debate in a hearing Saturday (March 2) before the Senate Public Affairs Committee of the New Mexico legislature.

UPDATE: The NM Senate Public Affairs Committee on Saturday recommended "do pass" on HB 51 and passed it on to the NM Senate Judiciary Committee. (3/4/2019)

House Bill 51, titled "Decriminalize Abortion," not only keeps abortions up to birth legal, it also would force medical professionals and institutions to participate in abortions. (See earlier story from OneNewsNow)

"We're asking folks to really take an opportunity to start speaking up about this issue," says Elisa Martinez of New Mexico Alliance for Life. "I think by and large most New Mexicans were not aware that abortion up to birth was even taking place – and now with these extremist [pro-abortion] measures in other parts of the country, like Virginia, New York, Rhode Island, [and] Vermont, we're able to shed a light on what is going on here in New Mexico."

Martinez points out it is "extremely dangerous" for a woman to have an abortion late into pregnancy.

"Women have died here in New Mexico and on at least 18 different cases have been injured," she continues. "So we're asking people to contact New Mexico senators and ask them to vote 'No' on this radical bill, HB 51."

Martinez tells OneNewsNow she expects the bill to pass the seven-member Senate committee on a party-line vote (four Democrats, three Republicans). HB 51 has at least seven sponsors, most of them in the House and all of them Democrats. The new governor, Democrat Michelle Lujan Grisham, has vowed to sign the legislation if it passes in the state Senate.