This past week, three Cornerstone-supported bills passed the New Hampshire House—a significant step forward made possible by principled legislators and committed advocates like you. The bills now move to the New Hampshire Senate for committee hearings and votes before consideration by the full Senate. If
your representatives voted in support of these bills, please take a moment to thank them.
HB 1268 — The Home Education Freedom Act
HB 1268 is one of the most significant pro-liberty homeschooling reforms in New Hampshire history. Under current law, homeschooling families are required to file notices of intent, maintain portfolios, and complete annual evaluations—requirements that many parents find intrusive and unnecessary.
This bill makes those requirements optional rather than mandated, trusting parents—not bureaucrats—to direct their children’s education. It also creates important protections ensuring that the choice to homeschool cannot be used as evidence of educational neglect, prohibits school officials from creating policies governing homeschoolers, and protects the privacy and autonomy of homeschool families. Families educating children with special needs are protected as well.
HB 1268 sends a clear message: New Hampshire respects and trusts its homeschooling families.
➡️ You can find the list of representatives who voted in favor of HB 1268 here under roll call.
HB 1195 — Expanding Child Care Access Through Zoning Reform
New Hampshire families are facing a severe shortage of quality, affordable child care options—and in many cases, overly restrictive local zoning ordinances are part of the problem. HB 1195 addresses this directly by requiring towns and cities to allow child care facilities to operate by right in appropriate zones, as long as they meet state licensing requirements.
This bill removes unnecessary local barriers that prevent home-based providers and smaller centers from serving their communities. It also provides much-needed clarity for churches that run child care facilities, easing burdensome zoning restrictions for faith-based organizations that have the space, trust, and mission-driven desire to serve local families.
You can read more about the importance of this bill in our Executive Director’s op-ed.
➡️ You can find the list of representatives who voted in favor of HB 1195 here under roll call.
HB 1416 – Protecting Pregnancy Resource Centers
Introduced by Rep. Sam Farrington, HB 1416 safeguards pregnancy resource centers by ensuring they can operate according to their mission—free from government overreach. Currently, across the country, pregnancy resource centers are facing increased targeting by state governments creating burdensome regulations which make the operation of these centers extremely difficult, and in some cases pressure the centers to provide or refer clients for services that conflict with their values.
HB 1416 would prohibit the state and municipalities from mandating that pregnancy resource centers perform abortions, provide contraception, or refer clients for such services. This is a commonsense protection for organizations that serve vulnerable women and families across New Hampshire.
On Thursday, HB 1416 passed the NH House 176-163. While offering protections like this to organizations that offer help to some of society’s most vulnerable seems like common-sense, every single Democrat opposed the bill. Unfortunately, six Republicans also voted against HB 1416, choosing to side with those who wish to see men and women providing help to women and babies in need forced to violate their consciences. Here are the Republican representatives who voted against this pro-freedom of conscience legislation:
Rep. Nicholas Bridle (Rockingham 29 – Hampton)
Rep. Matthew Coker (Belknap 2 – Meredith)
Rep. Tanya Donnelly (Rockingham 25 – Salem)
Rep. Bob Lynn (Rockingham 17 – Windham)
Rep. Dennis Mannion (Rockingham 25 – Salem)
Rep. Julie Miles (Hillsborough 12 – Merrimack)
A note on the progress of a bill in New Hampshire
We’ve recently received a number of questions about the steps a bill must go through before it becomes law. Now that all three of these bills have passed the New Hampshire House, the next steps are:
• The bills will be assigned to committees in the New Hampshire Senate.
• Each bill will receive a public hearing, where members of the public may offer testimony.
• After the hearing, the Senate committee will vote on a recommendation for the bill.
• The bill will then be considered by the full Senate.
• If the Senate passes the bill without amendments, it will proceed to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law.
New Christian Health Clinic Opens in New Hampshire
Earlier this year, Regina Caeli Clinic opened its doors in Gilford, NH. Rooted in Catholic teaching about respect for life and the dignity of the human person, the clinic provides pediatric primary care, women’s health care, and a host of naturopathic services.
Regina Caeli Clinic offers life-affirming, dignity-restoring, freedom-focused healthcare and serves as a beacon of hope for all who seek healing. For more information, visit the clinic’s website at rcclinicnh.org.