HB 1416 - AS INTRODUCED
2026 SESSION
26-3148
07/09
HOUSE BILL 1416
SPONSORS: Rep. Farrington, Straf. 8; Rep. Kofalt, Hills. 32; Rep. Notter, Hills. 12; Rep. Osborne, Rock. 2; Rep. M. Pearson, Rock. 34; Rep. Perez, Rock. 16; Rep. Sellers, Graf. 10; Rep. Thibault, Merr. 25; Rep. Granger, Straf. 2; Rep. Bennett, Rock. 4; Sen. Avard, Dist 12
COMMITTEE: Judiciary
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ANALYSIS
This bill:
I. Prohibits the state, state agencies or subdivisions, or any municipality from adopting certain regulations regarding abortion and contraception service offerings.
II. Allows pregnancy resource centers or persons harmed by violations of this act to sue the state, state agencies or subdivisions, or municipality for damage or injunctive relief.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-3148
07/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Short Title. This act may be known and cited as the "Pregnancy Resource Center Freedom of Expression Act".
2 Statement of Findings. The general court hereby finds that:
I. The life-affirming impact of pregnancy resource centers on the women, men, children, and the communities they serve is considerable and growing.
II. Pregnancy resource centers serve women with integrity and compassion in New Hampshire and across the United States.
III. Pregnancy resource centers provide comprehensive care to women and men facing unexpected pregnancies, including resources to meet their physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual needs.
IV. Pregnancy resource centers offer women free, confidential, and compassionate services, which may include pregnancy tests, peer counseling, 24-hour telephone hotlines, childbirth and parenting classes, referrals to community health care, adoption referrals, and other support services.
V. Many medical pregnancy resource centers offer ultrasounds and other medical services.
VI. Pregnancy resource centers encourage women to make positive life choices by equipping them with complete and accurate information regarding their pregnancy options and the development of their unborn children.
VII. Pregnancy resource centers provide important support and resources for women who choose childbirth over abortion.
3 New Chapter; Pregnancy Resource Centers. Amend RSA by inserting after chapter 332-N the following new chapter:
CHAPTER 332-O
PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTERS
332-O:1 Definitions. In this chapter:
I. "Abortion" shall have the definition set provided in RSA 132:32, I.
II. "Chemical abortion" means the use or prescription of any drug or chemical for the purpose of inducing an abortion, and shall include mifepristone.
III. "Contraception" means the use of any natural or artificial means to prevent the fertilization of a human ovum.
IV. “Pregnancy resource center” means a private nonprofit facility that provides pregnancy counseling, material support, or medical care to pregnant women but does not perform abortions or make referrals to abortion providers.
332-O:2 Restrictions on State Interference. This state, any agency or subdivision thereof, or any municipality, shall not, through the adoption or enactment of any law, ordinance, policy, or similar measure:
I. Require a pregnancy resource center to offer or perform abortions.
II. Require a pregnancy resource center to offer, provide, or distribute chemical abortion drugs or contraception.
III. Require a pregnancy resource center to refer for abortion, chemical abortion drugs, or contraception.
IV. Require a pregnancy resource center to counsel in favor of abortion, chemical abortion drugs, or contraception.
V. Require a pregnancy resource center to post any advertisement, sign, flyer, or similar material that promotes or provides information about obtaining an abortion, chemical abortion drugs, or contraception.
VI. Prohibit a pregnancy resource center from providing information, care, counseling, classes, or other services related to pregnancy, childbirth, or parenting because the center does not perform, refer, or counsel in favor of abortion, chemical abortion drugs, or contraception.
VII. Prohibit a pregnancy resource center from providing pre-natal and post-natal resources such as diapers, baby clothes, baby furniture, formula, and similar items because the center does not perform, refer, or counsel in favor of abortion, chemical abortion drugs, or contraception.
VIII. Prohibit a medical pregnancy resource center from providing medical testing, counseling, and care related to pregnancy or childbirth because the center does not perform, refer, or counsel in favor of abortion, chemical abortion drugs, or contraception.
IX. Prohibit a medical pregnancy resource center from counseling a woman on any pregnancy-related care or treatment, including care or treatment that may reverse the effects of chemical abortion drugs.
X. Interfere with a pregnancy resource center's staffing or hiring decisions by requiring it to interview, hire, or continue to employ any person who does not affirm the center's mission statement or agree to comply with the center's ethics and operating procedures.
332-O:3 Enforcement. A pregnancy resource center, or any party aggrieved by a violation of this chapter, may commence a civil action for injunctive relief, monetary damages, reasonable attorneys' fees, and court costs against the state, any agency or subdivision thereof, or the municipality in violation of this chapter.
332-O:4 Severability. If any provision of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this chapter are declared to be severable.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.
Dec. 4, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Judiciary