- The New Hampshire Senate voted Thursday against an attempt to enshrine the right to abortion in the Granite State’s constitution.
- The rejected proposal included broad language regarding amendments that would protect “individual reproductive autonomy.”
- In recent weeks, the New Hampshire Legislature has rejected several bills aimed at further restricting and further liberalizing abortion.
Another attempt to enshrine the right to abortion in New Hampshire’s constitution failed Thursday, this time in the Senate.
State law prohibits abortions after 24 weeks of pregnancy, unless the mother’s health or life is at risk or there is a fatal fetal abnormality. Earlier this month, the Republican-led House of Representatives voted 193-184 in favor of a constitutional amendment that would protect abortion rights to that standard, but fell short of the three-fifths majority needed to advance the proposal.
On Thursday, the Republican-led Senate rejected a similar bill outright, voting 14-9 along party lines to propose broader language that would have added language to the Constitution protecting “individual reproductive autonomy.” Voted no.
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Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion in 2022, voters in seven states have either upheld abortion rights or blocked attempts to curb them on statewide ballots.
New Hampshire State Capitol Building in Concord, New Hampshire on February 16, 2023. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
New Hampshire does not allow citizen-initiated voting efforts. Changes to the state constitution can be made if three-fifths of the state Legislature agrees to ask voters, who must approve the amendment with at least a two-thirds majority.
Sen. Becky Whitley, D-Hopkinton, argued that the state’s current lack of restrictions on abortions before 24 weeks does not equate to an affirmative right.
“I stand up for the girls in front of me who have fewer rights than I have. Those rights brought me directly to this chamber and helped me build a career, a family, and the dream life of my choosing.” ” she said.
Republican Sen. Bill Gannon of Sandown said voters have already made their opinions known by choosing their representatives.
“This Congress has been very clear and consistent on abortion rights,” he said.
The Senate on Thursday also considered a bill that would expand access to medical abortions and prohibit New Hampshire State Police from cooperating with out-of-state investigations into “legally protected medical activities.”
The House of Representatives rejected some measures to restrict abortion, including banning abortions after the 15th day of pregnancy. This is similar to a complete ban, since virtually no one knows that you are pregnant at that point.
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Another rejected bill would have required abortions after 15 weeks to be performed in a hospital with a neonatal intensive care unit, with two doctors present.
