Senate Judiciary Committee Rerefers Inflammatory Bill That Harms Grieving Families and Criminalizes Doctors

CONCORD – Today, the Senate Judiciary committee voted 3-2 to rerefer HB 233, a cruel bill that would impact tragic situations in pregnancy, including early labor or a fatal fetal diagnosis, where the newborn will not survive, regardless of interventions. HB 233 is inflammatory, medically inaccurate, and completely unnecessary. 

Statement from Kayla Montgomery, VP of Public Affairs for Planned Parenthood NH Action Fund and Planned Parenthood of Northern New England on rereferral of HB 233 in the Senate Judiciary Committee:

“We are pleased that the committee has recommended not to move this bill forward for now. Delaying the vote by a year, however, does not change the fact that this cruel and inflammatory bill would harm grieving families who want to spend their last moments with their newborn and threaten providers with a minimum of 7 ½ years in prison. HB 233 pushes an extreme political agenda at the expense of truth and compassion. Regardless of when HB 233 is voted on, Granite Staters – and the Senate Judiciary Committee – know that this bill does not belong in New Hampshire or anywhere.”

Background on HB 233:

HB 233 pushes a false narrative about reproductive health care for political purposes. It’s important to note that HB 233 is not an abortion bill. HB 233 would impact tragic situations where the newborn will not survive regardless of interventions, including early labor or a fatal fetal diagnosis. HB 233 interferes with much-wanted pregnancies when families want to leave the hospital with their newborn. HB 233 could deny families who are grieving the loss of their child the ability to choose the compassionate care that’s best for them, such as religious rites and sacraments. Instead, the bill could force parents to have their infant undergo invasive and futile medical procedures. Families deserve to be able to decide what is best for them in these situations. Any disagreement among providers in what is deemed “medically appropriate” could result in a colleague filing a report with law enforcement, with a threat of a minimum of 7 ½ years imprisonment.

HB 233 threatens to erase New Hampshire’s long bipartisan history of supporting the freedom to make personal medical decisions without government interference. Each pregnancy and each circumstance is unique, and bills like this simply can’t account for every situation

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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.