HB 254 · 2025 · House · Judiciary Committee
Medical aid in dying
AI-generatedrelative to options for end of life care.
Establishes a legal process, eligibility criteria, and health care provider requirements allowing a terminally ill adult to obtain and self-administer medical aid-in-dying medication, with reporting requirements and penalties for misuse.AI-generated
Status
Died on the table in the House · March 20, 2025- ✓Introduced
- ✕House
- Senate
- Governor
- Law
Analysis
This bill establishes a procedure for an individual with terminal illness to receive medical aid-in-dying medication. The bill establishes criteria for the prescription of such medication and establishes reporting requirements and penalties for misuse or noncompliance.
From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.
In the bill's words
Quoted verbatim from the bill as introduced. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site
“In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, the following definitions shall apply:”
“An attending health care provider may provide a prescription for medical aid-in-dying medications to an individual only after the attending health care provider has:”
“If either the attending health care provider or the consulting health care provider has doubts as to whether the individual has mental capacity and is unable to confirm that the individual is able to make an informed decision, the attending health care provider or consulting health care provider shall refer the individual to a mental health professional for a determination regarding mental capacity.”
“Indicate the date and time that the prescription for medical aid-in-dying medications was written and indicate the first allowable date and time when it may be filled.”
Official record
gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source
Sponsors
- Rep. Marjorie SmithDRanking Member· Judiciary
- Rep. David PaigeDRanking Member· Housing
- Rep. David MilzRChair· Public Works and Highways
Also: Rep. Bill BoltonD, Rep. Eric TurerD, Rep. Stephen WoodcockD, Rep. Mike BordesR
Public testimony
898 signed in online · 386 wrote testimony
69% support31% oppose0% neutral
ForCompassion for those suffering painful, prolonged deaths
AgainstSanctity of life is a religious or moral absolute
AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.
Read the argumentsIn their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted
“I am representing myself, my family and those I care for in my professional career, those with debilitating diseases. I see their end of life and want to give them and their families the opportunity to choose their own right.”
“As a former hospice nurse, i fully support this bill. I have worked with too many terminal patients to feel otherwise. And i believe that those who oppose this bill might feel differently if they were to spend hours, days, weeks and months with a dying person.…”
“I support passage of NH HB254 - all people should have control over their deaths as well as their lives. Give terminally ill citizens the dignity they deserve and power over themselves to choose how they wish to die. Please pass HB254!!”
“This bill is against the dignity of human life. Just say no.”
“This article from the Yale School of Medicine with a quote from Michael H. Levy, M.D., Ph.D, explains my view succinctly: At a time when life is devalued, when people are killed over necklaces or iPods, physician-assisted suicide ill serves patients, physicians and society, said Michael H. Levy, M.D., Ph.D., during a talk at internal medicine grand rounds in January.…”
“Every single person is infinitely valuable. State sanctioned suicide is utilitarian and abusive to the dignity of the person. People's value does not depend on their productivity.”
“The essence of this bill, and of the entire philosophy behind MAD, is to treat terminal conditions with abject despair. Life does not lose its value merely because it is filled with suffering.…”
Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.
Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026
Votes
yeanay- Mar 3, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass11–7Overall61% yea
- Overall50% yeaParty-line voteRepublicans177–2488% yeaDemocrats6–1584% yea
- Mar 27, 2025HouseDivisionRemove from Table (Rep. Lynn)Failed169–205Overall45% yea
Hearings and debates
- Jan 29, 2025Public hearingHouse Judiciary5:39:01–5:49:3210m 31slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
- Mar 3, 2025Public hearingHouse Judiciary44:31–45:391m 8slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass — roll call; Executive Session
- Mar 20, 2025Floor debateHouse floor5:52:57–5:59:556m 58slocated in the stream transcriptLay HB 254 on Table (Rep. Osborne) — adopted, roll call 183-182
- Mar 27, 2025Floor debateHouse floor1:16:40–1:21:094m 29slocated in the stream transcriptRemove from Table (Rep. Lynn) — failed, division 169-205
- Dec 17, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamDied on Table, Session ended
Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.
Legislative history
- Jan 8, 2025HouseIntroduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Judiciary HJ 2 P. 12
- Jan 29, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/29/2025 01:00 pm SH Reps Hall
- Mar 3, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/03/2025 10:00 am LOB 206-208
- Mar 3, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass 03/03/2025 (Vote 11-7; RC)
- Mar 7, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
- Mar 20, 2025HouseLay HB 254 on Table (Rep. Osborne): MA RC 183-182 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 66
- Mar 27, 2025HouseRemove from Table (Rep. Lynn): MF DV 169-205 03/27/2025 HJ 11 P. 16
- Dec 17, 2025HouseDied on Table, Session ended 12/17/2025 HJ 19
Coverage
No reporting linked yet.
Documents (PDF)
Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.