New Hampshire SB 551: relative to legal protections for legal reproductive health care services.

Bill Text

SB 551-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION

 26-2147

 09/08

SENATE BILL 551-FN

AN ACT relative to legal protections for legal reproductive health care services.

SPONSORS: Sen. Altschiller, Dist 24; Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13; Sen. Fenton, Dist 10; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Long, Dist 20; Sen. Reardon, Dist 15; Sen. Prentiss, Dist 5; Sen. Perkins Kwoka, Dist 21; Rep. Simpson, Rock. 33; Rep. Telerski, Hills. 11

COMMITTEE: Judiciary

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ANALYSIS

This bill:

 I. Declares that every individual present in the state has a right to reproductive health care as defined, and authorizes lawsuits against any who tortiously attempt to interfere with such right.

 II. Prohibits government officials or police agencies from cooperating with any out of state investigation into protected health care activity, subject to certain exceptions.

 III. Prohibits adverse actions or discipline from being taken by the office of professional licensure and certification and boards concerning certain legally protected health care activity, and prohibits health care providers or other state entities from sharing confidential communications or information regarding reproductive health care services with out of state agencies or individuals subject to certain exceptions.

 IV. Prohibits malpractice insurers from taking into account certain provisions of protected health care activity.

 V. Prohibits certain foreign judgments concerning protected health care activity from being given full faith and credit. 

 VI. Prohibits extraditing certain individuals for legally protected health care activity.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

 Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 26-2147

 09/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT relative to legal protections for legal reproductive health care services.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 1 New Chapter; Reproductive Health Care Access. Amend RSA by inserting after chapter 132-A the following new chapter: 

CHAPTER 132-B

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE ACCESS

 132-B:1 Definitions. In this chapter: 

 I. “Reproductive health care” means and includes all services, care, medications, and products of a medical, surgical, psychiatric, therapeutic, diagnostic, mental health, behavioral health, preventative, rehabilitative, supportive, consultative, referral, prescribing, or dispensing nature relating to the human reproductive system provided in accordance with the constitution and the laws of this state pursuant to RSA 132:33 and RSA 329:32 through RSA 329:53, whether provided in person or by means of telehealth or telehealth services, which includes, but is not limited to, all services, care, and products relating to pregnancy, assisted reproduction, contraception, pregnancy loss, or the termination of a pregnancy.

 II. “Legally protected health care activity” shall mean and include:

 (a) The exercise and enjoyment, or the attempted exercise and enjoyment, by any person of rights to reproductive health care secured by the laws of New Hampshire or the provision of insurance coverage for such services; 

 (b) Any act or omission undertaken to aid or encourage, or attempt to aid or encourage, any person in the exercise or attempted exercise of rights to reproductive health care as secured by the laws of New Hampshire, or to provide insurance coverage for such services or care; provided, however, that the provision of such reproductive health care by a person duly licensed under the laws of this state and physically present in this state and the provision of insurance coverage for such services or care shall be a legally protected health care activity if the service or care is permitted under the laws of this state; and

 (c) Shall not include any reproductive health care rendered below or in violation of an applicable professional standard of care. 

 III. “Abusive litigation” shall mean and include litigation or other legal action to deter, prevent, sanction, or punish any person engaging in legally protected health care activity by: 

 (a) Filing or prosecuting any action in any state other than New Hampshire where liability, in whole or part, directly or indirectly, is based on legally protected health care activity that occurred in New Hampshire, including any action in which liability is based on any theory of vicarious, joint, or several liability derived therefrom; or 

 (b) Attempting to enforce any order or judgment issued in connection with any such action by any party to the action or any person acti