Governor Ayotte Vetoes Transgender Bathroom Bill Again
New Hampshire’s Republican Governor Kelly Ayotte has once more vetoed a bathroom bill aimed at restricting access for transgender individuals who identify as female. This bill, known as Senate Bill 552, proposed to classify people based on “biological sex in certain limited circumstances” without fear of facing discrimination claims, according to local union leaders.
This isn’t the first time Ayotte has taken such action; she previously vetoed a nearly identical bill in February and another version last year. Her predecessor, former Governor Chris Sununu, also vetoed a similar legislative proposal before his term ended.
Ayotte remarked on Friday, “You can’t just try the same thing again and get a different result.” She emphasized her ongoing call for Congress to thoughtfully and narrowly address this matter while safeguarding the privacy, safety, and rights of all residents in New Hampshire. She noted the similarities between the current bill and those she has previously vetoed, concluding that this was the reason for her decision on Senate Bill 552.
The bill was primarily sponsored by state Sen. Kevin Avard, who has a history of sponsoring similar legislation. After announcing her veto, Ayotte did not comment further to the media.
There is still a related bill, HB 1442, awaiting deliberation in the state House of Representatives. State Rep. Erica Rayon, who leads the sponsorship of HB 1442, expressed disappointment over the governor’s veto.
Rayon commented, “While current laws seem to respect both biological sex and gender identity, the political dynamics behind gender identity often drown out women’s voices.” Furthermore, she pointed out that the women of New Hampshire are seeking clarifications on why Ayotte opposes gender-segregated restrooms that would prevent access for certain individuals.
This statement refers to Stacey Marie Lawton, a transgender man and the first state lawmaker in New Hampshire to openly identify as such, who is currently facing a 33-year prison sentence for child exploitation.
Even with Republicans maintaining majorities in both legislative bodies, they would require a two-thirds majority to override Ayotte’s veto. Reports indicate that the previous vote in the House of Representatives for the bill was narrow, at 179 to 159.
Democratic House Minority Leader Alexis Simpson has indicated her intention to support Ayotte’s veto when the issue is revisited by her colleagues in the fall.
