New Mexico would trade in its Columbus Day holiday for a tribute to Native Americans instead under a bill being drafted in anticipation of next year's legislative session. The proposed legislation to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day from Democratic state Rep. Derrick Lente, a tribal member of Sandia Pueblo, has cleared its first hurdle with an unopposed committee endorsement.

The bill can't be introduced until Dec. 15, and it was unclear Monday whether Democratic Gov.-elect Michelle Lujan Grisham supports the proposal to rename the state holiday on the second Monday in October. At least five states — from Hawaii to Vermont — have done away with Columbus Day celebration in deference to Native Americans, though the federal Columbus holiday remains in place.