Repro Roundup 3.28
I’m going to be frank: We are facing serious uphill challenges in New Hampshire that need your attention now more than ever.
This past week, New Hampshire Republicans advanced two bills limiting access to gender-affirming care for trans youth, rejected two bills that would have affirmed the legal right to abortion in the Granite State, and put forth a proposal to fully eliminate the state’s Family Planning Program, which disburses essential Title X funding to several of the state’s sexual and reproductive health centers.
New Hampshire Republicans are making it crystal clear that the promises many of them made on the campaign trail not to restrict reproductive health care were 100% lies.
We can’t afford to let them get away with this. We have to hold anti-abortion legislators accountable.
Right now, you can write to members of the Finance Committee and tell them to SAVE the New Hampshire Family Planning Program. Then, sign up below to stay up-to-date on our efforts to stop anti-abortion extremism, anti-trans harassment, and cuts to our care in the Granite State.
On to this week’s headlines –
News from New England
→ This Week’s Connecticut Bill Marathon
Our Connecticut State Director Liz just made it through a marathon run of public hearings for our priority legislation in the Nutmeg State. This week, the Judiciary Committee heard testimony on HB 7135, a proposal to strengthen Connecticut’s shield law to ensure Connecticut's abortion and gender-affirming care providers are protected from hostile out-of-state prosecution when providing care via telehealth. Later that same day, the Public Health Committee heard testimony on SB 7, protecting patient access to emergency pregnancy-related care, including emergency abortion care. SB 7 would also ensure that providers at all institutions have the ability to share information with patients or refer them for sexual and reproductive health care without fear of discipline from their employer. Stay tuned for updates on these crucial pieces of legislation.
→ Read An Op-Ed in Support of Affirming Abortion Access in NH
Despite the fact that our efforts to affirm the right to abortion care in New Hampshire were blocked by anti-abortion extremists this past week, we know it’s crucial to keep the drum beat on this issue and ensure that Granite Staters know we’re fighting for abortion access. We are proud to have worked with Senator Debra Altschiller, the lead sponsor of SB 260, and Representative Mary Hakken-Phillips, co-sponsor of HCR 7, on this op-ed detailing why New Hampshire needs to move to protect reproductive freedom and abortion access.
→Briefing the MA Public Health Committee on Expanding Abortion Throughout Pregnancy
Our Massachusetts State Director, Lyv, and our Senior Director of Policy and Programs, Claire, testified at an educational hearing for the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Public Health about the current landscape of reproductive health care in Massachusetts, the national threats we’re facing, and the importance of expanding abortion access throughout pregnancy. We’re excited to continue to work with the committee to improve access to reproductive health care and ensure that all Bay Staters have the resources they need to access the full spectrum of pregnancy care, abortion care, sexual and reproductive health care, and maternal health care.
→ Our Op-Ed Uplifting Providers in Connecticut
Earlier this month, we celebrated Abortion Provider Appreciation Day – and since then, we’ve been reflecting on the work we have ahead of us to enforce meaningful protections for abortion providers. Our Connecticut State Director Liz co-authored an op-ed with Cassie Lehr, a board member of the REACH Fund, in which they outline actions that the Connecticut legislature can take this session to better support and increase protections for abortion providers.
We have an ambitious reproductive equity agenda for the Nutmeg State – we’re working to protect emergency abortion care, expand Connecticut’s shield law to cover telemedicine, protect abortion providers from professional retribution for providing the best standard of medical care, and expand access to abortion care throughout pregnancy. With your support, we can make sure no medical professional in Connecticut faces prosecution or professional retribution for providing life-saving, life-affirming care.
National Notice
→ First Post-Dobbs Provider Arrests
Last week, two providers in Texas were arrested on charges that they allegedly provided abortions to patients in violation of state law. These arrests come on the heels of an extradition order issued by the Louisiana Attorney General attempting to bring a New York provider to Louisiana to face charges of providing abortion care to a patient across state lines using telemedicine. These arrests and suits mark the first post-Dobbs charges and prosecution attempts against providers. We knew this was coming, but it’s no less of a gut punch to see it play out. We’ll keep you posted with ways to support these providers.
→ Trump is AGAIN Planning Title X Funding Cuts
This past week, the Trump Administration announced plans to freeze a significant portion of federal Title X funding, which subsidizes sexual and reproductive health care at federally qualified health centers. (Trump cut Title X funding in his first Administration as well, which led to many clinics having to shut their doors.) This funding primarily funds Planned Parenthood and independent reproductive health care providers, including our independent provider partners across New England. The loss of this funding will be catastrophic for low-income patients, who rely on this program to access pregnancy tests, birth control, cancer screenings, STD testing, and more. This move represents a clear and present attack on abortion access, even in states where abortion is protected in state law.
→ Supreme Court Oral Arguments Next Week in Case Challenging Planned Parenthood Medicaid Funding
Next week, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Medina v. Planned Parenthood, a case that will determine if South Carolina can block Medicaid payments to Planned Parenthood for non-abortion services. Medicaid rules dictate that any person eligible and enrolled in Medicaid can use Medicaid for any provider that is deemed “professionally competent.” South Carolina is attempting to deny Planned Parenthood any Medicaid funding, in direct violation of federal law.
Get Involved!
📍ANYWHERE! Purchase tickets for Reproductive Equity Now’s 2025 Gala!
Reproductive Equity Now will be hosting our 2025 Gala on May 15th at the InterContinental in Boston, and we would be thrilled to have you join us! Purchase tickets at this link, and learn more about sponsorship opportunities here.
📍ANYWHERE! Join the Abortion Access Advocates!
Abortion Access Advocates is a growing volunteer resource program designed to support you as abortion and reproductive equity advocates. At our AAA trainings, we gather virtually with fellow advocates, get to know each other, and dig into a new topic each month. Our next AAA meeting will feature leaders of local abortion funds who will help us understand mutual aid and support for abortion seekers. Register here!
Our Resources
Need to understand your legal rights to provide or access abortion care? Reproductive Equity Now’s Abortion Legal Hotline will help connect Massachusetts and Connecticut-based health care providers and helpers, as well as patients obtaining care in Connecticut or Massachusetts, with free legal advice and resources about abortion access. This resource is now available in Spanish.
Looking for an abortion provider in your area? Our New England Abortion Care Guide allows you to search by zip code for legitimate abortion clinics near you. It even flags dangerous and deceptive anti-abortion centers to avoid at all costs. This resource is now available in Spanish.
Want to learn more about how to combat anti-abortion centers in your community? Check out Reproductive Equity Now’s guidebook on anti-abortion centers to understand how anti-abortion centers often use deceptive practices to target patients seeking abortion care, and get the tools you need to avoid them.
Thank you so much for powering this fight. We’re grateful to have you in the movement with us.
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