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With high court poised to overturn Roe, N.H. legislation protecting abortion access remains tabled
This story was updated May 3, 2022 at 3:45 p.m. to include a comment from Gov. Chris Sununu. As the U.S. Supreme Court appears poised to overturn Roe v. Wade and delegate abortion law to states, New Hampshire lawmakers have blocked legislation that would enshrine abortion rights in state statute. If a bill reaches his […]
Lawyer representing hundreds criticizes state’s plan to settle their YDC abuse claims
This story was updated May 2, 2022 at 4 p.m. to more fully explain the position of the New Hampshire Association for Justice. As the House did in March, the Senate on Thursday gave its overwhelming support to a bill that would create a $100 million settlement fund for the hundreds of people who’ve said […]
Senate committee recommends interim study for ‘right of conscience’ bill
A House bill that would allow physicians and pharmacists to refuse to perform abortions and sterilizations or prescribe contraception will face a challenge in the Senate. The Senate Health and Human Services Committee voted, 4-1, Wednesday to recommend interim study for House Bill 1080, saying it was too broad and unnecessary given existing federal protections […]
Ivermectin, ‘conscience’ objection bills taken up by Senate committee
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee voted on two of the bigger COVID-19-related bills Wednesday, backing legislation to ease access to ivermectin and rejecting a new “conscience” objection exemption to vaccine mandates. If House Bill 1022 succeeds as amended by the committee, for the next two years, pharmacists would be able to dispense ivermectin […]
Councilors, advocates raise concerns about company chosen to provide care at Hampstead Hospital
The Department of Health and Human Services has chosen a private, for-profit company that has primarily worked with adults in jails and prisons to provide behavioral health care to children and young adult patients admitted to Hampstead Hospital. Signing a deal will take longer than the department had hoped after the Executive Council voted, 5-0, […]
Bill requiring suicide prevention helpline on all student ID cards supported by House committee
When Rep. Melissa Litchfield prepared to record votes on Senate Bill 234 Tuesday, she warned her fellow House Education Committee members she might struggle. “I’m shaking,” said Litchfield, a Brentwood Republican. “I’m going to have trouble calling it without crying.” The bill would require schools to put the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on all student […]
Four companies accused of violating COVID-19 health protocols fined by OSHA
Four New Hampshire companies have been fined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration after being cited for violating federal COVID-19 health protocols, according to the agency’s database. Cited violations include one company’s failure to make symptomatic employees stay home despite 43 workers testing positive for COVID-19 and not ensuring common areas were regularly cleaned. […]
Bill to expand dental benefits for Medicaid recipients passes Senate
Nearly 100,000 Granite Staters on Medicaid appear closer than ever to getting preventative dental benefits with legislation passed Thursday by the Senate in a 24-0 vote. Currently Medicaid dental insurance covers only emergency care such as extractions. New Hampshire is one of about a dozen states that do not cover preventative dental care for people […]
Senate passes bill adding fatal fetal anomaly exception to 24-week abortion ban
The Senate passed a bill Thursday that would allow women to terminate a pregnancy for a fatal fetal anomaly after 24 weeks without their doctors risking prison time and hefty fines. Gov. Chris Sununu said Wednesday he would sign the bill but added he preferred it included exceptions for rape and incest, and dropped criminal […]
Opponents of conscientious objector exemption for vaccines say bill isn’t ‘misunderstood’
The sponsor of a divisive bill that would create a broad and undefined “conscience” objection to existing exemptions from workplace vaccine mandates urged a Senate committee to support it Wednesday, saying it only reaffirms what employers can already do. “House Bill 1210 is probably the most misunderstood bill of this entire session,” Rep. Tim Lang, […]
Lawmakers look to address AG’s concerns about ‘personal privacy’ bill
A House committee is seeking to scale back a bill after the Charitable Trusts Unit said it would limit its ability to police nonprofits and charities for conflicts of interest and scams. But the new proposal still leaves concerns for the state, the unit’s spokesman said. As introduced by a group of House and Senate […]
‘It was the testimony of the moms’: How fatal fetal anomaly exception gained Republican support
This story was updated on April 18, 2022 to correct the middle name of Lisa Akey’s daughter. Gov. Chris Sununu has urged Republicans to loosen the 24-week abortion ban he signed into law last year by adding an exception for babies who won’t survive after delivery. The House agreed in March, and there’s every indication […]