Reproductive Equity Now Slams New Hampshire Senate Rejection of Shield Law
CONCORD (March 5, 2026) – Despite strong support from constituents and providers in New Hampshire, today, the New Hampshire Senate voted on party lines to defeat the Shield Law for Reproductive Health Care Access (SB 551), legislation that would protect patients and providers in New Hampshire from out-of-state political interference, intimidation, and legal threats related to reproductive health care.
“This rejection of a reasonable and urgent policy to shield our Granite State reproductive health care providers is the latest instance of the majority of our elected leaders making New Hampshire a less safe, less healthy place to work and live,” said Christina Warriner Hamilton, New Hampshire State Director of Reproductive Equity Now. “Time and time again, we have begged New Hampshire lawmakers to do the bare minimum: protect the right to access and provide lawful abortion and reproductive health care. We have explained that these protections are necessary as patients and providers across the country face growing threats, surveillance, and attacks. By failing to protect Granite State reproductive health care providers, Senate Republicans have left our doctors and patients vulnerable to out-of-state attacks for providing or accessing health care that is legal in New Hampshire. New Hampshire’s inability to ensure clear protections stifles the opportunity to recruit and retain skilled health care providers and worsens our ongoing health care workforce shortage. Granite Staters will remember exactly who stood up to protect our providers and who continues to turn their backs on them, come November.”
Specifically, the Shield Law for Reproductive Health Care Access would’ve:
Codify the right to reproductive health care services, inclusive of care and services to pregnancy, assisted reproduction, contraception, pregnancy loss, and pregnancy termination;
Ensure New Hampshire law governs in any case or controversy related to reproductive health care when provided by a licensed New Hampshire clinician within New Hampshire’s borders;
Prohibiting New Hampshire public officials from cooperating in any way with investigations related to reproductive health care or related activity;
Specifically prohibiting the Governor from extradition requests from other states related to reproductive health care activity;
Protecting providers from professional discipline and medical malpractice rate hikes if they are the subject of out-of-state litigation related to reproductive health care activity;
Establishing a cause of action for any person who is subject to abusive out-of-state litigation to pursue a civil action, giving defendants a remedy to seek damages, and to deter abusive lawsuits.
A copy of the bill can be found HERE.
The Shield Law for Reproductive Health Care Access (SB 551) was sponsored by Senator Debra Altschiller (District 24) and received full Senate Democratic support, with all Senate Democrats serving as co-sponsors. Co-sponsors included Senate Minority Leader Rebecca Perkins Kwoka (District 21) and Senators Donovan Fenton (District 10), Pat Long (District 20), Suzanne Prentiss (District 5), Tara Reardon (District 15), Cindy Rosenwald (District 13), and David Watters (District 4). The legislation was also co-sponsored by House Minority Leader Alexis Simpson (D-Exeter) and Deputy House Democratic Leader Laura Telerski (D-Nashua).
Last month, ahead of this bill’s public hearing with the New Hampshire Senate Judiciary Committee, Reproductive Equity Now joined lawmakers, providers and advocates for a press conference in support of a Shield Law in New Hampshire.
BACKGROUND
In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, abortion policy has shifted sharply to state governments, resulting in a patchwork of laws across the country. Some states have prohibited or heavily restricted abortion, and others have taken steps to protect access. This has led to increasing legal conflicts between states, as providers and patients cross state lines for care and as restrictive states attempt to exert legal authority beyond their borders.
Politicians, judges, and other powerful actors in states across the country are actively working to criminalize providers for delivering abortion care. New Hampshire is not immune to these threats, as the only state in New England without shield law protections for reproductive health care providers. New Hampshire is already facing a health care workforce crisis, with hospital closures and provider shortages limiting access to care. Without clear legal protections, abortion providers face added fear and uncertainty — making it harder to recruit and retain doctors and putting patients’ access at further risk.
A New Hampshire Shield Law would protect patients and providers, allow providers to do their jobs without fear or political interference, and make clear that New Hampshire doesn’t tolerate out-of-state efforts dictating our health care.
22 other states, varying on the political spectrum, have shield laws for reproductive health care. This includes all other New England states besides New Hampshire.
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