Reproductive Equity Now Urges NH Legislature to Keep Workplace Protections for Moms
WATCH: New Hampshire State Director testifies to the House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services Committee in opposition to HB 1250
CONCORD (January 20, 2026) – Today, Reproductive Equity Now’s New Hampshire State Director, Christina Warriner Hamilton, testified before the New Hampshire House Labor, Industrial, and Rehabilitative Services Committee on HB 1250, legislation that would strip workplace protections for postpartum and pediatric appointments. Warriner Hamilton spoke to how this bill will undo progress made last year by Momnibus 2.0, landmark legislation that Reproductive Equity Now prioritized during the 2025 legislative session, which expanded protections for new mothers in the workplace.
Read Reproductive Equity Now’s written testimony in opposition to HB 1250 HERE. Watch Warriner Hamilton deliver testimony HERE. Full transcript below.
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Oral Testimony
January 20, 2026
Reproductive Equity Now Testimony in Opposition to HB. 1250
Christina Warriner Hamilton, New Hampshire State Director
New Hampshire House Labor, Industrial, and Rehabilitative Services Committee
Hello, Honorable Committee. My name is Christina Warriner Hamilton, and I am the New Hampshire State Director for Reproductive Equity Now. We advocate for everyone to have access to reproductive and maternal health care, and so that if they choose to become parents, they can do so in environments that are healthy and supportive.
I am here to testify in opposition to HB 1250. I appreciate the questions about amending the bill, but this bill, as written, targets the modest but impactful shifts that we made last year through Momnibus so that parents can remain in the workforce and achieve healthy outcomes for themselves and their infants.
This bill looks to target RSA Chapter 275, Section 37-f (Momnibus 2.0), if you are looking for it in the statute. It is, again, as my colleague mentioned, making sure that folks are afraid to take this leave. We worked very closely with the BIA (New Hampshire Business and Industry Association) to use reasonable language in this law and also made sure that this was something that was sustainable for employers. The leave is unpaid; you have to give reasonable notice before you request taking it; and, as mentioned, employers can request documentation to ensure that this leave is being used appropriately.
Respectfully, I’m not sure that the law was designed for a heart surgeon; it was designed for an hourly worker who is afraid to take time off to care for their child. Also, in this economy, no one wants to take twenty-five hours of unpaid time off; it’s something you do in hopes that you can get back into the workforce when the emergency is over. We hope it is recognized that twenty-five hours is approximately three full workdays if someone has an eight-hour job, and that handling an infant’s emergency early on would be best to ensure that time off does not last longer.
We know that moms and dads want to be working. I know that as a newly married person who wants to have children, we need a dual income, so we hope this law will help retain employees in the workforce so they don’t have to choose to leave. One in four moms are choosing to leave the workforce one year after giving birth.
Thank you for your consideration. I hope that you oppose this bill, and I am happy to take any questions.
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