2025 New Hampshire Legislative Issues
With new administrations in both Washington, D.C. and Concord, NH, we need to remain strong to defeat hostile legislation targeting sexual and reproductive health care, the LGBTQ+ community, and our democracy.
DID YOUR STATE REP VOTE TO SUPPORT FUNDING FOR HEALTH CENTERS?
Attacks on Birth Control
- HB 10 and SB 72: Both of these bills are referred to as the "parental bill of rights." Both bills had committee amendments in their respective chambers that would ban confidential access to birth control for teenagers. New Hampshire has the lowest teen pregnancy rate in the entire country. Access to contraception, especially when it's private and judgment-free, is one of the biggest contributors to New Hampshire’s low teen pregnancy rate - and politicians should not jeopardize this. Good news: The Senate tabled HB 10 (effectively defeating it). The House rejected the committee amendment on SB 72, which means confidential access to birth control may continue in New Hampshire at this time!
Support for Abortion Access
PPNHAF supports the following legislation, as they demonstrate clearly that the legislature will not further restrict abortion in New Hampshire.
- HCR 7: HCR 7 affirms the position that New Hampshire will not further restrict abortion - what many current lawmakers promised on the campaign trail. HCR 7 puts their words into action. Unfortunately, the House voted 199-171 to table HCR 7, defeating it for 2025.
- SB 260: SB 260 protects abortion rights before 24 weeks of pregnancy. New Hampshire is the only state in New England without any explicit protections for abortion access in our state law or Constitution. Unfortunately, the Senate voted 16-8 to defeat this bill.
Attacks on Abortion
These bills attempt to ban or further restrict abortion access in New Hampshire, as well as stigmatize and shame patients.
- HB 191: HB 191 is an “abortion helper ban," which would make it harder for people to get safe, legal health care. The House amended HB 191 to focus on “surgical procedures.” The NH Senate voted to re-refer this bill, essentially stopping the bill for this year.
- HB 232: HB 232 would allow any health care provider (defined broadly in this bill) to deny a patient health care based on their own religious beliefs - and could even allow store clerks to deny selling condoms (PPNHAF’s testimony). This House Judiciary Committee retained HB 232 and will take it up next year.
- HB 662: HB 662 requires students in grades 9-12 to be subjected to videos that explain abortion procedures from the perspective of an anti-abortion organization – one that openly opposes abortion and seeks to ban it across the country (PPNHAF’s testimony). The NH House voted to defeat HB 662!
- HB 667: HB 667 mandates all public college and university students to be subjected to anti-abortion propaganda materials in order to graduate (PPNHAF’s testimony). The House amended HB 667 to require age appropriate, medically accurate sexuality education in NH, including information about abstinence, adoption, and healthy relationships. It also requires a video to be shown about fetal development. The NH Senate amended HB 667 to remove specific topics, while still requiring age appropriate, medically accurate sexuality education. The House accepted the Senate's amended version. The bill now heads to the governor's desk.
- HB 476: HB 476 would ban abortion at 15 weeks of pregnancy in New Hampshire. Good news: HB 476 was withdrawn by the full House on Thursday, 2/6/25! This bill is officially defeated!
Sexual and Reproductive Health, Maternal Health
The following bills address various areas of sexual and reproductive health care.
- HB 415: HB 415 would remove the current requirement that public middle and high schools provide menstrual products in bathrooms (PPNHAF's testimony in opposition to HB 415). Good news: on 2/20/25, the NH House voted "Inexpedient to Legislate" on HB 415, meaning the bill is defeated!
- HB 730: HB 730 forces colleges and universities to give adoption information any time STIs, STDs, or contraception is discussed (PPNHAF's testimony in opposition to HB 730). The NH House voted to defeat HB 730!
- SB 246: SB 246, also known as "Momnibus 2.0," addresses systemic challenges facing moms and families. PPNHAF SUPPORTS SB 246. The final version of the state budget included Momnibus 2.0, which was signed into law!
Attacks on the LGBTQ+ Community
The following bills target members of the LGBTQ+ community, and may also directly impact parents, families, and health care providers of LGBTQ+ individuals.
- HB 148: HB 148 allows businesses and schools to discriminate against transgender individuals in the restroom they can use.
- HB 377: HB 377 bans transgender health care for teenagers and criminalizes providers with a class B felony.
- HB 712: HB 712 bans all gender-affirming surgeries for teenagers.
- SB 211: SB 211 bans transgender athletes from playing on the athletic team corresponding to their gender -- the gender their parents, coaches, and peers know them to be.
- SB 38: SB 38 allows the discrimination against transgender individuals by businesses and schools.
- SB 268: SB 268 allows the discrimination against transgender individuals by businesses and schools; this bill uses identical language to HB 148.
Healthy Democracy
In order to ensure all patients receive the health care they need when they need it without barriers, we must have a healthy democracy.
- HB 67: HB 67 ensures that the state would provide towns accessible voting devices for their use in all NH elections by extending a pilot program, passed in 2024, from one year to indefinitely. PPNHAF SUPPORTS HB 67. It is heading to Gov. Ayotte's desk.
- HB 365: HB 365 requires the Secretary of State attempt to verify citizenship status of voters without documents and creates a voucher program for voters without proof of citizenship. This bill could restrict voting from anyone with a name that does not match the name on their birth certificate, voters born outside of New Hampshire, or those who do not have immediate access to their birth certificate or passport. PPNHAF OPPOSES HB 365. This bill has been retained, which means it will be continued next year.
- HB 385: HB 385 would repeal the provisions in HB1569, by reinstating the ability to register to vote by signing a sworn affidavit if the voter does not have physical proof of identity, age, citizenship, or domicile, or if they don’t have photo ID when they arrive at the polls to receive their ballot. PPNHAF SUPPORTS HB 385. Unfortunately, the NH House voted to defeat HB 385.
- HB 418: HB 418 would amend the reasons voters can cast an absentee ballot to being absent from their town or city where they are domiciled or having a disability - eliminating religious observance, work, child care, and inclement weather from reasons for voting absentee. PPNHAF OPPOSES HB 418. Unfortunately, the NH House voted to defeat HB 418.
- SB 213: SB 213 requires that voters who are registering by absentee ballot (because they attest they are unable to register in person) also provide proof of their identity, age, domicile, and citizenship. Also requires notary signature on application and ballot. PPNHAF OPPOSES SB 213. This bill is heading to Gov. Ayotte's desk.
- SB 214: SB 214 allows no excuse absentee voting, which means any voter could cast an absentee ballot instead of voting on election day if they chose to. PPNHAF SUPPORTS SB 214. Unfortunately, the NH Senate voted 16-8 to defeat SB 214.