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Senate sends ‘right of conscience’ bill to interim study, passes repeal of clinic buffer zone law
The Legislature worked late into the night Thursday to act on bills ranging from reproductive health protections to vaccine mandate exemptions. The House and Senate had until midnight to take up the other body’s bills. Those that survived unchanged will head to the governor. Bills changed by one body will return to their originating chamber, […]
Legislative roundup: $100 million YDC settlement fund approved by Senate
The Senate passed legislation Thursday allotting $100 million to settle claims with the hundreds of people who’ve said they were sexually or physically abused as children while held at the state’s former Youth Development Center. Over the fierce objections of victim advocates and their lawyers, payments are capped at $1.5 million for sexual abuse and […]
Not used but needed: Providers oppose efforts to repeal clinic buffer zones
In early April, a woman arrived at the Equality Health Center to terminate a pregnancy she wanted but was too ill to continue. Dehydrated from vomiting, she passed out outside the clinic and couldn’t walk in on her own. As Dalia Vidunas, the center’s executive director, helped her through a crowd of 22 protesters, some […]
House Republicans block Democrats’ attempts to take up legislation protecting abortion rights
House Democrats’ renewed efforts to pass bills protecting rights to an abortion failed Wednesday when a majority of House members blocked consideration of the legislation. Rep. Steven Smith, a Charlestown Republican, faulted Democrats for bringing forth the bills, two of which had been previously tabled, while the House was still considering pending legislation. “When I […]
After assurances from AG, council approves Wellpath contract for Hampstead Hospital
Executive councilors unanimously approved a two-year, $52 million contract Wednesday with a company that primarily treats incarcerated adults to provide psychiatric care for children at Hampstead Hospital. They did so after Attorney General John Formella told them the company hasn’t faced an “unusually high” number of lawsuits for an organization working in the prison industry, […]
Organizations call on Executive Council to reconsider Wellpath contract for Hampstead Hospital
Five organizations focused on protecting children and their access to mental health treatment have called on executive councilors to seriously reconsider the state’s proposed contract with Wellpath Recovery Solutions to provide psychiatric care to children at Hampstead Hospital. They cited the company’s primary focus on providing health care to adults in prison and the numerous […]
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 […]