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NH House of Representatives Passes Legislation to Expand and Protect Abortion Rights
 Access to Abortion-care Act Passes with Strong Bipartisan Support

For Immediate Release: March 23, 2023


CONCORD, NH - Today, the New Hampshire House voted 199 - 185 to pass HB 88, the Access to Abortion-care Act. 

Currently, New Hampshire is one of three states where abortion is legal but not protected; there are no affirmative abortion rights in New Hampshire state law. The Access to Abortion-care Act would not amend any current state abortion laws, but would provide critical assurance to Granite Staters in this post-Roe environment.

After today’s vote, Liz Canada, Advocacy Manager at Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund, released the following statement:

“We applaud the lawmakers who crossed party lines today to do what’s best for Granite Staters and we will be working to advance the Access to Abortion-care Act as it moves across the hall to the New Hampshire Senate.

Today’s strong bipartisan vote in support of the Access to Abortion-care Act is in line with the broad majority of Granite Staters who expect New Hampshire lawmakers to protect and expand abortion access in wake of the Supreme Court decision to dismantle federal constitutional protections for abortion rights last year.”

BACKGROUND:

Polling:

  • A recently released survey from Breakthrough Campaigns conducted on behalf of Amplify NH shows that a supermajority of Granite Staters - 87% - support reproductive freedom and 89% of Granite Staters expect state elected officials to protect or expand abortion access in New Hampshire. Just 11% of Granite Staters want more abortion restrictions in the state.
  • In a new 50-state survey, PRRI found most Americans oppose abortion ban policies; 69% of Granite Staters believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases.
  • August 2022 polling by the Saint Anselm College Survey Center shows that support for abortion rights in New Hampshire is at a historic high and nearly 6 in 10 voters disapproved of the overturning of Roe v. Wade on June 24, 2022.
  • Polling released in July, 2021 from the UNH Survey Center shows that New Hampshire’s newly-enacted abortion ban is deeply unpopular, with only one-third of Granite Staters in support of it. Nearly half of independent Granite Staters oppose this ban, as do 27 percent of Republicans.
  • The truth is, most Granite Staters and most Americans support access to safe, legal abortion. If someone has decided to have an abortion, more than 8 in 10 respondents want the experience to be supportive and nonjudgmental, without added burdens or protesters, affordable and safe. 

The New Hampshire Landscape:

  • Without Roe, abortion is still safe and legal in New Hampshire until 24 weeks - for now. A bill to ban abortion would have to pass to further dismantle access to abortion. 
  • The restrictions on abortion in New Hampshire are clear: access to abortion at or after 24 weeks is banned, with no exceptions for rape or incest and doctors face criminalization. 
  • NH RSA 329:49 says “Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed as creating or recognizing a right to abortion.”
  • New Hampshire is the only state in New England without proactive protections for abortion rights in state statutes or our state constitution.

HB 88: New Hampshire’s Access to Abortion-care Act (AAA)

  • House Bill 88 would put abortion rights into state statute. If passed into law, it would proactively protect the future of abortion rights in the Granite State.
    • Remote sign ins: 1,306 in support; 202 opposed
    • NH House Judiciary voted 10-10 on both an “Inexpedient to Legislate” and “Ought to Pass” motion; HB 88 will now go to the full House with no committee recommendation.
    • NH House voted 199-185 in support of Ought to Pass on HB 88
  • The Senate version of the Access to Abortion-care Act, SB 181, was defeated 14-10.
  • Testimony in support of HB 88:

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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.

This page is controlled and operated by Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund.

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