Crossover Week: Here’s What It Means for Bills We are Tracking
This week marked an important milestone in the New Hampshire legislative session: Crossover Week.
So what does that mean? In the New Hampshire Legislature, bills must pass out of their chamber of origin — either the House or the Senate — by a set deadline before they can move forward. Crossover Week is that deadline. Bills that pass their chamber of origin cross over to the other chamber for further review and votes. Bills that don’t make it out in time are effectively inactive or dead for the session.
Here’s where things stand for important bills we’ve been tracking:
✅ SB 552: passed the Senate and is moving through the House.
✅ HB 1416: passed the House and is moving into the Senate.
✅ HB 1195: passed the House and is moving into the Senate.
✅ HB 1268: passed the House and is moving into the Senate.
❌ HB 1292: was referred to interim study by the Judiciary committee.
For bills that crossed over, the work isn’t done. Cornerstone will be watching closely as committees in the opposite chamber take them up and will alert you when there are opportunities to make your voice heard.
Ask House Committee to Pass State Recognition of Biological Sex Bill
On Wednesday, the House Judiciary Committee heard testimony on SB 552 a critical, straightforward bill that clarifies the state’s permission to classify biological sexes in public areas such as athletic competitions, prisons, restrooms, and places of intimate privacy.
Across the state in Interlakes, Milford, and New Ipswich, biological males identifying as females have abused unrestricted access to female locker rooms, resulting in normalized harassment. Because there is no law explicitly giving permission to the state to separate biological sexes, the state Department of Justice claims that NH is prohibited from doing so at all.
SB 552 will address this issue and clarify that public entities are not forbidden from differentiating between the biological sexes. The bill resolves serious safety concerns arising from the use of self-declared gender identity by allowing the separation of shared private spaces.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
🗓️ SB 552 will now have an executive session on the House Judiciary Committee. During an executive session, the committee will vote to recommend the bill as OTP (ought to pass) or ITL (inexpedient to legislate).
✅ Please contact the House Judiciary Committee and urge them to vote OTP (Ought to Pass) on SB 552.
📩 You can email the full committee here.
Next Steps: Help Protect Pregnancy Resource Centers in the New Hampshire
HB 1416, introduced by Rep. Sam Farrington, safeguards pregnancy resource centers by ensuring they can operate according to their mission without fear of government overreach. Under current law, these centers sometimes face regulations that could require them to provide or refer for services that conflict with their values or mission. HB 1416 would prohibit the state and municipalities from mandating that pregnancy resource centers perform abortions, provide contraception, or refer clients for such services.
Pregnancy resource centers serve individuals with compassion and support during challenging circumstances, offering education and material assistance. Allowing government entities to impose requirements that contradict those principles undermines their ability to serve their communities effectively and could deter them from offering the help that so many need.
New Hampshire has a strong tradition of valuing the ability of faith-based and community organizations to serve without unnecessary interference. By protecting pregnancy resource centers from regulations that could force them to act against their convictions, this legislation supports the meaningful work these centers do across the state.
Earlier this month, HB 1416 passed the NH House on a vote of 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
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
✍️ HB 1416 has now been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
📩 Please contact the Senate Judiciary Committee and ask them to support the bill.
👀 Keep an eye out for the upcoming hearing date and information.
Support Homeschool Freedom in the Granite State
Rep. Kristin Noble’s HB 1268, The Home Education Freedom Act, 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.
Earlier this month, HB 1268 passed the House on a vote of 174-166.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
✍️ HB 1268 has now been assigned to the Senate Education Committee.
📩 Please contact the Senate Education Committee and ask them to support the bill.
👀 Keep an eye out for the upcoming hearing date and information.
Support HB 1195 — Expanding Child Care Access Through Zoning Reform
After passing the House a voice vote, HB 1195 will now head to the Senate.
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.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
✍️ HB 1195 has now been assigned to the Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs Committee.
📩 Please contact the Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs Committee and ask them to support the bill.
👀 Keep an eye out for the upcoming hearing date and information.