The "Health Care Workers Conscience Protection Act" is a newly enacted law in New Mexico that provides legal protections for health care workers who refuse to participate in abortion or abortion-related services based on their conscience, which may stem from ethical, philosophical, moral, or religious beliefs. The bill defines key terms such as "abortion," "health care worker," and "participate," and establishes that individuals cannot face criminal liability, professional sanctions, or employment disciplinary actions for their refusal to engage in such services. Additionally, health care entities and payers are prohibited from imposing penalties or adverse actions against workers who decline to participate for conscience-based reasons.

The act also includes specific notice requirements for health care institutions, mandating that they inform their workers about the provisions of the law within certain timeframes and conspicuously post a summary of the act on their premises. The law emphasizes that a health care worker's refusal to participate in abortion services should not be reported as unprofessional conduct or lead to disciplinary investigations. The act is declared an emergency measure, taking effect immediately to ensure public peace, health, and safety.