HB1416 (2026) Detail

(New Title) establishing a committee to study what legal protections currently exist for the freedom of expression of pregnancy resource centers and whether further First Amendment protections are needed.


HB 1416 - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

 

12Mar2026... 0916h

05/14/2026   1912s

2026 SESSION

26-3148

07/09

 

HOUSE BILL 1416

 

AN ACT establishing a committee to study what legal protections currently exist for the freedom of expression of pregnancy resource centers and whether further First Amendment protections are needed.

 

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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AMENDED ANALYSIS

 

This bill establishes a committee to study what legal protections currently exist for the freedom of expression of pregnancy resource centers and whether further First Amendment protections are needed.

 

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

12Mar2026... 0916h

05/14/2026   1912s 26-3148

07/09

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

 

AN ACT establishing a committee to study what legal protections currently exist for the freedom of expression of pregnancy resource centers and whether further First Amendment protections are needed.

 

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

 

1  Committee Established.  There is established a committee to study what legal protections currently exist for the freedom of expression of pregnancy resource centers and whether further First Amendment protections are needed.

2  Membership and Compensation.

I.  The members of the committee shall be as follows:  

(a)  Two members of the senate, one of whom shall be a member of the minority party, appointed by the president of the senate.

(b)  Three members of the house of representatives, one of whom shall be a member of the minority party, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

II.  Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.

3  Duties.  The committee shall:  

I.  Determine what legal protections currently exist for the freedom of expression of pregnancy resource centers and whether further First Amendment protections are needed.

II.  Solicit testimony from the attorney general's office to determine whether there have been substantiated complaints by pregnancy resource centers alleging violations of the First Amendment.

III.  Identify current state and federal law related to pregnancy resource centers, including relevant United States Supreme Court cases, and determine what First Amendment protections currently exist for pregnancy resource centers in New Hampshire.

IV.  Determine if there are gaps in First Amendment protections for pregnancy resource centers in New Hampshire.

4  Chairperson; Quorum.  The members of the study committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members.  The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named senate member.  The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section.  Three members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.

5  Report.  The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate clerk, the house clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2026.

6  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect upon its passage.

Amendments

Date Amendment
March 4, 2026 2026-0916h
May 12, 2026 2026-1912s

Links


Date Body Type
Feb. 25, 2026 House Hearing
Feb. 25, 2026 House Exec Session
Feb. 27, 2026 House Floor Vote
March 12, 2026 House Floor Vote
April 28, 2026 Senate Hearing
May 14, 2026 Senate Floor Vote

Bill Text Revisions

HB1416 Revision: 52184 Date: May 15, 2026, 12:59 p.m.
HB1416 Revision: 52031 Date: May 12, 2026, 2:06 p.m.
HB1416 Revision: 51241 Date: March 13, 2026, 3:49 p.m.
HB1416 Revision: 50944 Date: March 4, 2026, 8:56 a.m.
HB1416 Revision: 49830 Date: Dec. 4, 2025, 9:11 a.m.

Docket


May 21, 2026: Sen. Gannon Refused to Accede to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; 05/21/2026; SJ 13


May 20, 2026: Speaker Appoints: Reps. Peternel, Kuttab, Scully, McFarlane 05/14/2026 HJ 13


May 20, 2026: House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1912s and Requests CofC (Rep. Lynn): MA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13


May 14, 2026: Sen. Abbas Floor Amendment # 2026-1976s, AA, VV; 05/14/2026; SJ 12


May 14, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1912s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/14/2026; SJ 12


May 14, 2026: Committee Amendment # 2026-1912s, AA, VV; 05/14/2026; SJ 12


May 12, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1912s, 05/14/2026, Vote 3-2; SC 18A


April 24, 2026: Hearing: 04/28/2026, Room 100, SH, 01:40 pm; SC 17


March 17, 2026: Introduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 7


March 13, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-0916h: MA RC 176-163 03/12/2026 HJ 8


March 13, 2026: Lay HB1406 on Table (Rep. N. Germana): MF RC 165-174 03/12/2026 HJ 8


March 13, 2026: Amendment # 2026-0916h: AA RC 179-161 03/12/2026 HJ 8


March 13, 2026: Inexpedient to Legislate: MF RC 165-176 03/13/2026 HJ 8


March 13, 2026: Special Order to the next order of business (Rep. Osborne): MA VV 03/12/2026 HJ 8


March 4, 2026: Minority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0916h


March 4, 2026: Majority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/27/2026 (Vote 9-8; RC) HC 10 P. 100


March 4, 2026: Executive Session: 02/25/2026 10:00 am GP 230


Feb. 12, 2026: Public Hearing: 02/25/2026 10:00 am GP 230


Dec. 4, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Judiciary HJ 1 P. 19