New Hampshire House Fails to Pass Resolution Affirming Abortion As Basic Health Care
New Hampshire remains only New England state without affirmed protection to abortion access
CONCORD (March 20, 2025) – During today’s New Hampshire House Session, members of the House Majority voted to table HCR 7, a resolution that would affirm Granite Staters’ right to access abortion care prior to 24 weeks.
“Over the past few weeks, thousands of Granite Staters expressed their support for HCR 7 – reflective of the overwhelming majority of people in this state who believe in protecting every person’s freedom to access abortion care. Despite this, members of the House Majority effectively killed a reasonable and necessary resolution that would have affirmed Granite Stater's right to determine their own reproductive futures,” said Christina Warriner, New Hampshire State Director for Reproductive Equity Now. “We are living in a time not only of relentless attacks to our bodily autonomy, but of deepening mistrust in those elected to represent us. Several House majority lawmakers campaigned on a promise not to further restrict access to abortion care in New Hampshire – but when they had an opportunity to follow through on this promise by affirming that an individual's right to terminate their pregnancy, prior to 24 weeks gestation, shall not be denied or infringed upon, they did not. Nevertheless, we will keep up the fight and pursue every avenue to protect abortion access in New Hampshire, including advocating for the passage of SB 260.
Reproductive Equity Now led a coalition of advocates in recruiting hundreds of Granite Staters to personally reach out to their representatives to encourage them to support HCR 7 after the resolution received an unfavorable recommendation on party lines from the House Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs Committee. The committee's unfavorable recommendation came even though over 96% of all public comments at the hearing were in support of the resolution.
HCR 7 is among Reproductive Equity Now’s 2025 legislative priorities for New Hampshire, alongside its companion bill in the Senate, SB 260, legislation that would codify the right to abortion care prior to 24 weeks gestation, and ensure this freedom is not infringed upon by our state government. This Tuesday, again despite wide public support, SB 260 received an unfavorable recommendation on party lines from the Senate Judiciary Committee. SB 260, will likely receive a vote in the Senate next week.
Yesterday, House co-sponsor of HCR 7, State Representative Mary Hakken-Phillips (D-Hanover), alongside lead Senate sponsor of SB 260, State Senator Debra Altschiller (D-Stratham), wrote an op-ed, in partnership with Reproductive Equity Now, titled “Abortion Is Basic Health Care,” urging the New Hampshire Legislature to affirm Granite Staters’ right to abortion care.
This January, Reproductive Equity Now announced its legislative agenda for the 2025 New Hampshire legislative session, which additionally focused on improving maternal health outcomes in the state and defending against continued anti-abortion and anti-LGBTQ attacks.
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