Gov. Sununu Signs First Abortion Ban in Modern New Hampshire History, Forfeits Claim to be “Pro-Choice”

CONCORD -- Today, amid outrage from people across the Granite State, Gov. Chris Sununu signed the most regressive anti-reproductive health care budget in New Hampshire history, ignoring public opinion and opposition from more than 200 of the state’s leading medical experts.

By signing this budget, which includes an extreme abortion ban, medically unnecessary ultrasound requirements, criminal penalties for doctors, and inadequate funding for the NH Family Planning Program, Gov. Sununu has removed any doubt of where he stands on abortion rights: he is anti-abortion. Granite Staters, who are strongly in favor of safe, legal abortion, deserve better than a governor who is “pro-choice” in name only.

Statement from Kayla Montgomery, VP of Public Affairs for Planned Parenthood NH Action Fund and Planned Parenthood of Northern New England:

“Pro-choice governors don’t sign abortion bans. By making himself the first governor in modern New Hampshire history to sign an abortion ban into law, Gov. Sununu stripped away personal freedoms from pregnant people and criminalized doctors for doing their jobs. The vast majority of Granite Staters support the right to safe, legal abortion and nowhere in the country is banning abortion popular. Granite Staters will not forget who is responsible for this egregious attack on their reproductive health and freedom."

Statement from Alexis McGill Johnson, president, Planned Parenthood Action Fund:

“Today, New Hampshire’s ‘pro choice’ governor chose to create more barriers for Granite Staters seeking abortion rather than protecting their reproductive freedom. It’s clearer than ever that who’s in office matters. This year alone, more than 550 abortion restrictions have been introduced in state legislatures, despite the fact that 8 in 10 Americans support the right to safe, legal abortion. Without leadership that stands up for our health care, abortion will continue to be a right in name only — unless you live in the right ZIP code and have the resources to navigate the barriers created by anti-abortion politicians. Planned Parenthood Action Fund and its supporters won’t stop working to ensure our state houses have champions in office who will stand up for our patients, our providers, and our rights.”

The law contains a number of cruel provisions aimed at preventing people from getting abortion and other reproductive health care, including:

• an extreme abortion ban later in pregnancy that contains no exceptions for fetal diagnosis, rape, or incest, forcing Granite Staters to travel out of state for essential health care;

• a requirement for medically-unnecessary pre-abortion ultrasounds that add additional cost, time, and burden for abortion patients and their doctors, and that may stop people from receiving medication abortion;

• a felony penalty and fines up to $100,000 for abortion-providing doctors, which could discourage the provision of abortion; and 

• a drastic underfunding of the New Hampshire Family Planning Program, which will keep people from getting necessary reproductive health services in their communities. 

The governor’s decision to sign such a restrictive law in a state more supportive of safe, legal abortion than the American average (American Values Atlas) is a stunning insult to the people of New Hampshire. Later abortion bans like this are unpopular nationwide, and a similar ban was resoundingly rejected by Colorado voters in 2020. 

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Planned Parenthood Action Fund is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit membership organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The Action Fund engages in educational, advocacy, and electoral activity, including grassroots organizing, legislative advocacy, and voter education.

Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (PPNNE) is the largest provider of reproductive and sexual health care for women, men and young people 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. In 2020, we saw nearly 11,000 patients at these sites.

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.