In the Wake of Supreme Court Decision, New Hampshire Senate Faces Battle Over Abortion Rights 

The New Hampshire Senate's rejection of a proposed abortion rights amendment reflects a divisive landscape, highlighting challenges in advancing comprehensive reproductive autonomy despite House approval.
The New Hampshire Senate's rejection of a proposed abortion rights amendment reflects a divisive landscape. Credit | Getty images

US – On Thursday, the Senate rejected yet another proposal to codify abortion rights in the New Hampshire Constitution. 

Republicans Block Broadly Worded Amendment 

The legislation restricts abortions after 24 weeks except in cases where the mother’s health or life is in danger, or the fetus has a fatal anomaly. Last week, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives narrowly passed a constitutional amendment for safeguarding the right to abortion up to this limit by 193 to 184 votes. It falls short of the three-fifths votes needed to be finally approved. 

On Thursday Republicans from the Senate turned down a similar measure outright, voting 14-9 along party lines the rejection of a more broadly worded proposal to include language in the constitution to protect “personal reproductive autonomy.” 

Seven states’ voters have either defended abortion rights or resisted attempts to restrict them in statewide elections since the U.S. Supreme Court abolished the constitutional right to an abortion in 2022. 

Unique Legislative Process 

Ballot proposals led by citizens are prohibited in New Hampshire. If three-fifths of the Legislature agree to bring the question to voters, who must then accept modifications by at least a two-thirds majority, changes to the state constitution can be adopted, as reported by Associated Press. 

The state’s existing lack of restrictions on abortions performed before 24 weeks of pregnancy, according to Hopkinton Democrat Sen. Becky Whitley, does not constitute an affirmative right. 

“I rise for the little girls ahead of me who now have less rights than I have, rights that led me directly to this chamber, and helped me build a career, a family and life of my choice and of my dreams,” she said. 

Sen. Bill Gannon, a Republican from Sandown, echoed the voters, stating they have already conveyed their views by choosing their representatives. 

“This Legislature has been crystal clear and consistent when it comes to abortion rights,” he said. 

Additional Legislation Considered 

In addition to that, the Senate considered a bill regarding medication-assisted abortions and banning the law enforcement of New Hampshire to assist in out of state investigations related to the “legally protected health care activity.” 

A ban on abortion beyond 15 days of pregnancy is one of the restrictions on the procedure that the House has rejected. Given that almost no one is aware that they are pregnant at that moment, it would be equivalent to an absolute ban, as reported by the Associated Press. 

Another plan that was defeated would have mandated that abortions beyond 15 weeks of pregnancy only be conducted in hospitals with neonatal intensive care units and with the presence of two doctors.