Reproductive Equity Now Condemns NH Lawmakers’ Moves to Undermine Abortion Access
In advance of the 2026 legislative session, House Republicans are doubling down on anti-abortion policy
CONCORD (November 12, 2025) – After today’s executive session in the House Judiciary Committee, coupled with the executive session in the Senate Judiciary Committee on October 23rd, it appears evident that as New Hampshire lawmakers gear up for the 2026 legislative session, restricting reproductive health care will be a top priority. This clear indication that New Hampshire lawmakers are moving toward restricting abortion access for Granite Staters comes in direct contrast to several promises previously made by the legislative majority.
“As we prepare for the 2026 legislative session in New Hampshire, the majority of lawmakers are making it abundantly clear that they will be prioritizing pushing anti-abortion policy, despite their campaign promises not to touch New Hampshire’s abortion laws,” said Christina Warriner Hamilton, New Hampshire State Director of Reproductive Equity Now. “While Granite Staters face a devastating cost-of-living crisis and health care costs continue to skyrocket, the majority of our lawmakers are working behind the scenes to limit their access to reproductive health care. Not only is this a betrayal of promises made to Granite Staters, but it is an abdication of their responsibility to protect their constituents from economic hardship perpetrated by our federal government. We call upon the legislature to reject this anti-abortion legislation and focus on what Granite Staters really need: solutions to the health care affordability crisis.”
New Hampshire lawmakers have already introduced more than a dozen bills to restrict access to reproductive health care in the 2026 legislative session. This fall, they have taken action to move forward two anti-abortion measures – HB 232 and HB 191 – that could be voted on as soon as January 7, 2026 when the legislature reconvenes for the second year of the legislative biennium. Reproductive Equity Now opposed HB 232 and HB 191 when they were originally deliberated by the legislature during the 2025 legislative session.
Recent funding reductions to Medicaid and the New Hampshire Family Planning Program have made it more difficult for providers to operate and for patients to afford or access urgently needed care. Additionally, New Hampshire’s most northern and rural counties have seen 6 labor and delivery units close since 2000.
Background on HB 232
Introduced by Rep. Mark Pearson (R), and heard by the House Judiciary Committee on February 5th, this legislation, as originally filed, intended to offer health care professionals the right to conscientiously object to providing abortion, sterilization, or artificial contraception services based on religious beliefs or moral or ethical convictions. The bill was retained by the House Judiciary Committee on March 3rd due to concerns about the harmful consequences of the bill.
Rep. Katy Peternel (R) and Rep. Joe Alexander (R) introduced an amended version (2025-2932h) of the bill in September, which narrowed the scope of the bill to abortion.
At today’s House Judiciary Hearing, Committee Democrats raised concerns about the bill’s impact on rural health care patients’ access to health care, where access to reproductive health care - including abortion and maternity care - is already limited. In response, Rep. Peternel said she believed that “this bill is not about the patients” and dismissed access concerns by claiming “people can travel to get the care that they need, that is the nature of health care in rural America.”
The bill passed out of committee as amended today on a party-line vote of 10-7.
Background on HB 191
Introduced by Rep. Glenn Cordelli (R), and heard by the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee on January 22nd, this legislation, as originally filed, intended to criminalize the “recruitment” and transport of young people to abortion appointments without notarized consent. The House ultimately passed an amended version of the bill that criminalized the transport of a minor to any surgical procedure without their parents’ written consent.
On October 23rd, the Senate Judiciary Committee further amended the bill to expressly criminalize the transport of minors to abortion appointments without written parental permission. Because parental notification laws for minors already exist, this measure would add an extra step that makes it more difficult for some patients to access abortion care.
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