After Shocking SCOTUS Draft Decision Leak, New Hampshire Senate Set to Consider Legislation to Repeal State Patient Safety Zone Law for Reproductive Health Centers
For Immediate Release: May 4, 2022
CONCORD - On Thursday, May 5, 2022, the New Hampshire Senate will vote on HB 1625, which would repeal the patient safety zone law for reproductive health centers. The vote comes after Politico published a leaked draft Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization that explicitly overturns Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey.
Statement from Liz Canada, Advocacy Manager for Planned Parenthood of Northern New England and Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund:
“We know that when the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, extreme anti-abortion protestors will travel to states where abortion remains legal, including New Hampshire. Now is not the time to further jeopardize the safety and privacy of patients and providers at our state’s reproductive health centers by repealing New Hampshire’s carefully balanced patient safety zone law. As violence increases at reproductive health care facilities across the country, we must preserve every public safety tool. We strongly urge the full Senate to reject HB 1625.”
BACKGROUND:
- HB 1625 would repeal NH’s patient safety zone law, passed with bipartisan support in 2014 to protect patient and provider safety and privacy at reproductive health centers.
- The original law allows health centers to establish flexible and optional patient safety zones of up to 25 feet and it was intentionally designed to strike a balance between patient safety and an individual’s First Amendment rights.
- On May 3, Governor Chris Sununu indicated he was not in support of repealing New Hampshire’s “buffer zone” law.
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Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (PPNNE) is the largest provider of reproductive and sexual health care across the State of New Hampshire. We serve New Hampshire residents through 6 health centers in Claremont, Derry, Exeter, Keene, Manchester and White River Junction, VT. Last year we saw more than 10,000 patients at these sites. PPNNE was named a 2021 Guardian of Excellence Award® winner by Press Ganey, the national leader in health care consumer and workforce engagement. Press Ganey recognizes PPNNE as a top-performing health care organization, achieving the 95th percentile or above for performance in patient experience, out of more than 20,000 medical practices.
Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund (PPNHAF) is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England in New Hampshire. The Action Fund engages in educational and electoral activity, including voter education, grassroots organizing, and legislative advocacy.