NH Republicans backtrack on election promises, propose new abortion restrictions

Top New Hampshire reproductive rights leaders are decrying recently filed bills by state Republicans that would further roll back abortion and reproductive rights for women in New Hampshire.

The introduction of the bills comes after an election year where the New Hampshire Republican Party promised up and down that no such bills would be forthcoming, even spending six-figures on a public awareness campaign to amplify that promise to New Hampshire voters.

While many bills have yet to be made public, many filed bills have been released and already several Republican bills that would curtail abortion rights in the state have been made public, with some going further than the previous ban passed in 2021 did.

Republican State Representative Glenn Cordelli proposed one such bill aimed at imposing criminal and civil penalties for any individual aiding a minor in obtaining an abortion without parental consent, a law often referred to as a “travel ban”.

The bill is similar to legislation passed in other deep red states designed to protect abortion restrictions in Republican states above the rights of individuals seeking abortions. Last year, Idaho became the first state to outlaw so-called “abortion trafficking” and Tennessee enacted a similar law in May.

Republican State Representative John Sellers has introduced two bills to require schools to provide lessons advocating against abortion procedures and offer alternatives, like adoption, in school health education.

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These bills join the recent arrival of conservative curriculum into New Hampshire public schools, like the recent integration of PragerU in New Hampshire schools.

Top reproductive rights leaders in the state are fuming over the rapid 180-degree turn Republicans have taken since last month’s election.

Democratic House Leader Alexis Simpson said these Republican bills are clearly counter to repeated promises they made in 2024.

“During the election, New Hampshire House Republicans repeatedly asserted that they had no plans to impose additional restrictions on abortion access in our state. However, just days after securing a majority, they abandoned these campaign promises and filed multiple bills to restrict abortion access,” Simpson said.

Leaders of top abortion rights groups in New Hampshire are joining Simpson in criticizing Republicans.

Kayla Montgomery, VP of Public Affairs at Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund, said Republicans have already broken their election year promise.

“New Hampshire Republicans poured millions of dollars into TV ads and mailers, all to assure Granite Staters they wouldn’t restrict abortion rights. But before the legislative session has even begun, they’ve already shattered that promise.

“This isn’t just a betrayal of trust; it’s a direct attack on the will of the people. Granite Staters deserve better than broken promises and ideological overreach. Leadership should immediately condemn these attacks on reproductive freedoms.”

Rebecca Hart Holder, President of Reproductive Equity Now, said New Hampshire Republicans spent big to push their election year lies on abortion.

“The New Hampshire GOP spent six figures deceiving Granite State voters on the severity of their anti-abortion records, but the bill filings we’ve already seen this legislative session put their extremism on full display,” Hart Holder said.

“Kelly Ayotte has the responsibility to honor her campaign promise to veto any further restriction on abortion care and reproductive freedom.”