HB 1673, relative to women’s privacy and repealing the fetal health protection act
WHEN: HB 1673 will be voted on in the full NH House as early as Tuesday, March 15.
CORNERSTONE POSITION: Cornerstone OPPOSES this bill.
WHY: Last month the House Judiciary Committee amended HB 1673 to create a bill which completely guts the Fetal Life Protection Act by stripping out the law’s enforcement mechanism and adding open-ended exceptions to the law, making abortionists the final word on when an abortion can occur.
Please contact your representatives and ask them to vote against the committee recommendation of “Ought to Pass with Amendment” on HB 1673. Ask them to vote for a floor amendment by Rep. Matt Simon and failing that, to stop the bill by any means necessary.
HB 1180, relative to state recognition of biological sex
WHEN: HB 1180 will be voted on in the full NH House as early as this Tuesday, March 15.
CORNERSTONE POSITION: Cornerstone OPPOSES the Committee amendment but SUPPORTS Rep. Gould’s bill as a originally written.
WHY: As originally written, this bill states that the state of New Hampshire has a viable interest in differentiating in biological sexes in areas such as sports, prisons, and places of intimate privacy. Unfortunately, an amendment adopted by the House Health and Human Services Committee strips out essential language, creating a bill that is likely to do more harm than good in the courts.
Please contact your representatives and ask that they vote against the committee recommendation of “Ought to Pass with Amendment” on HB 1180 and instead vote “Ought to Pass” on the bill as originally written.
HB 1080, relative to rights of conscience for medical professionals
WHEN: HB 1080 will be voted on as early as this Tuesday, March 15, in the full NH House.
CORNERSTONE POSITION: Cornerstone SUPPORTS this bill.
WHY: HB 1080 ensures that no health care provider in the state of New Hampshire can be forced to participate in an abortion, sterilization, or provide contraceptives against their will.
Please contact your representatives and ask them to vote in favor of the committee recommendation of “Ought to Pass” on HB 1080.
HB 1625, the Sidewalk Free Speech Act
WHEN: HB 1625 will be voted on in the full NH House as early as this Tuesday, March 15.
CORNERSTONE POSITION: Cornerstone SUPPORTS this bill.
WHY: New Hampshire’s “buffer zone” law allows private abortion businesses to designate up to 25 feet of the sidewalk and street as no-free-speech zones where even silent prayer is not allowed. This bill would repeal this assault on our first amendment rights.
A similar law was invalidated in Massachusetts under the First Amendment.
Please contact your representatives and ask them to vote against the Judiciary Committee’s recommendation of “Inexpedient to Legislate” on HB 1625 and instead vote “Ought to Pass” on the bill.
Update on Recent Legislative Action
HB 1609, relative to the scope of the fetal life protection act
STATUS: In February, the NH House passed HB 1609, which guts the Fetal Life Protection Act. It now has to be voted on by the House Finance Committee before returning to the full House at the end of the month.
WHEN: This Monday, March 13, there will be a work session on HB 1609 before a finance subcommittee. The full Finance Committee will then vote on the bill on Wednesday, March 23.
CORNERSTONE POSITION: Cornerstone OPPOSES this bill.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Contact the Finance Committee and ask them to vote “Inexpedient to Legislate” on HB 1609. You can send an email to all the members of the Committee at HouseFinanceCommittee@leg.state.nh.us.
WHY: Last year the Fetal Life Protection Act was passed as part of the budget, which is the primary responsibility of the Finance Committee. HB 1609 totally changes the language and intent of the original law approved by the House just last year. Ask the Committee to stand by the original language and protect the Fetal Life Protection Act by voting ITL (Inexpedient to Legislate) on HB 1609.
