HB 377 · 2025 · House · Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee
Banning gender treatments for minors
AI-generated(New Title) relative to health care professionals administering hormone treatments and puberty blockers and relative to recognizing the second Thursday in October as children's environmental health day.
Prohibits health care providers from performing procedures or prescribing medication, including puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones, intended to alter a minor's gender, creates a private right of action for violations, and establishes children's environmental health day.AI-generated
Status
Signed into law · August 11, 2025- ✓Introduced
- ✓House
- ✓Senate
- ✓Governor
- ✓Law
Analysis
This bill: I. Prohibits the performance of a medical procedure or the prescription or issuance of medication, upon or to a minor child, that is intended to alter the minor child's gender. II. Establishes the second Thursday in October as children's environmental health day.
From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.
In the bill's words
Quoted verbatim from the bill as enacted.
“This act shall be known as the Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act.”
The name the legislature gave it, written into the law.AI-generated
“a person shall not knowingly perform or offer to perform on a minor, or administer or offer to administer to a minor, a medical procedure, including but not limited to a puberty-blocking or cross-sex hormone medication, if the performance or administration of the procedure or medication is for the purpose of altering or attempting to alter the appearance of or affirm the minor's perception of his or her gender or sex, if that perception is inconsistent with the minor's biological sex as defined in this chapter:”
The prohibition itself, covering both puberty blockers and cross-sex hormone medication for anyone under 18.AI-generated
“Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit a health care provider from continuing the direction or administration of medication or treatment that began prior to January 1, 2026, and such continued treatment shall not be considered a violation of this chapter.”
The grandfather clause: treatment already underway before January 1, 2026 may continue.AI-generated
“A minor aggrieved by a violation of this chapter may bring an action in the superior court for damages and injunctive relief against any person who has committed a violation of this chapter.”
Enforcement runs through a private lawsuit, with a window running two years past the minor’s eighteenth birthday.AI-generated
“The governor shall annually issue a proclamation declaring the second Thursday of October as children's environmental health day and shall encourage all cities and towns to properly observe the day in an appropriate manner to raise awareness and educate citizens about the importance of clean air, clean water, safe food, and safe consumer products.”
The unrelated second half of the act: a children’s environmental health day, folded in during the amendment process.AI-generated
Official record
gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source
Sponsors
- Rep. Erica LayonRChair· Executive Departments and Administration
- Rep. Sherri ReinfurtRClerk· Housing
- Rep. Judy AronRChair· Environment and Agriculture
- Rep. Sayra DeVitoRClerk· Fish and Game and Marine Resources
- Rep. Katy PeternelRVice Chair· Education Policy and Administration
- Sen. Keith MurphyRDeputy President Pro Tempore
Also: Rep. Jim KofaltR, Rep. Sheila SeidelR, Rep. Melissa LitchfieldR
Public testimony
1,765 signed in online · 525 wrote testimony
6% support94% oppose0% neutral
ForMinors lack maturity to consent to irreversible care
AgainstMedical decisions belong to patients, families, doctors
AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.
Read the argumentsIn their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted
“I am writing to express my strong support for HB 377, the Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act, which seeks to prohibit healthcare professionals from administering puberty blockers and hormone treatments to minors, except in cases of medically verifiable disorders of sex development.…”
“Please vote YES and support this important Bill protecting innocent New Hampshire minors.”
“I full heartedly SUPPORT HB 377 that will prohibit medical procedures and the use of treatments intended to alter a minor’s birth gender or puberty.…”
“The Office of the Child Advocate has concerns with any bill that interferes with the rights of parents, children and medical providers to make medically appropriate decisions relating to the best and most appropriate care for children; especially bills that target specific vulnerable populations of youth and decisions about their bodies.…”
“This bill represents a medical matter, to be discussed and decided upon by minor patients, parents and medical professionals. Politicians do not belong in this realm. It seems to be a veiled attempt to discriminate against transgender people.”
“I oppose this bill. This should be between a person and that person’s doctor only. This is none of the government’s business.”
Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.
Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026
Votes
yeanay- Overall56% yea
- Overall99% yea
- Overall45% yeaParty-line voteRepublicans3–2011% yeaDemocrats165–299% yea
- Overall48% yeaParty-line voteRepublicans177–2787% yeaDemocrats0–1670% yea
- Resulting text: Bill as amended by the HouseOverall54% yeaParty-line voteRepublicans195–398% yeaDemocrats1–1641% yeaOther1–0100% yea
- Jun 5, 2025SenateRoll callOught to Pass with Amendments #2025-2354s, and #2025-2514s #2025-2621sAdopted16–7How they votedResulting text: Bill as amended by the SenateOverall70% yeaParty-line voteRepublicans16–0100% yeaDemocrats0–70% yea
- Jun 5, 2025HouseVoice voteHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-2354s 2025-2514s and 2025-2621s and Requests CofC (Rep. Kofalt)adoptedResulting text: Bill as adopted by both chambers
- Jun 5, 2025SenateVoice voteSen. Rochefort Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conferenceadopted
- Overall56% yeaParty-line voteRepublicans201–299% yeaDemocrats1–1591% yea
- Overall67% yeaParty-line voteRepublicans16–0100% yeaDemocrats0–80% yea
- Jun 26, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted
Hearings and debates
- Mar 3, 2025Public hearingHouse Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs3:46:41–3:53:306m 49slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
- Mar 19, 2025Public hearingHouse Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs36:08–37:171m 9slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1083h — roll call; Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Executive Session
- Mar 27, 2025Floor debateHouse floor3:00:15–3:26:0025m 45slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-1083h — adopted, roll call 197-167; Amendment # 2025-1083h — adopted, division 350-4; FLAM # 2025-1316h (Rep. Weber) — failed, roll call 168-203
- Apr 23, 2025Public hearingSenate Health and Human Services5:09:52–5:20:1910m 27slocated in the stream transcriptHearing; ==ROOM CHANGE== Hearing
- Jun 5, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-2354s 2025-2514s and 2025-2621s and Requests CofC (Rep. Kofalt) — adopted, voice vote; Speaker Appoints: Reps. W. MacDonald, Kesselring, Kofalt, Drew
- Jun 5, 2025Floor debateSenate floor7:27:00–7:38:2011m 20slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendments #2025-2354s, and #2025-2514s #2025-2621s — adopted, roll call 16-7; Committee Amendment # 2025-2354s — adopted, voice vote; Sen. Rochefort Floor Amendment # 2025-2514s — adopted, voice vote
- Jun 26, 2025Floor debateSenate floor1:44:11–1:50:546m 43slocated in the stream transcriptConference Committee Report Filed, # 2025-2809c; Conference Committee Report # 2025-2809c — roll call 16-8; Enrolled Adopted — voice vote
- Jun 26, 2025Floor debateHouse floor4:32:38–4:45:0612m 28slocated in the stream transcriptConference Committee Report 2025-2809c: Adopted — roll call 202-161; Enrolled (in recess)
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 Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs HJ 2 P. 17
- Mar 3, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 03/03/2025 09:30 am LOB 306-308
- Mar 19, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/19/2025 09:30 am LOB 201
- Mar 19, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1083h 03/19/2025 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 17 P. 58
- Mar 19, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
- Mar 27, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-1083h: AA DV 350-4 03/27/2025 HJ 11 P. 36
- Mar 27, 2025HouseFLAM # 2025-1316h (Rep. Weber): AF RC 168-203 03/27/2025 HJ 11 P. 37
- Mar 27, 2025HousePrevious Question MF RC 177-194 HJ 11 P. 40
- Mar 27, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-1083h: MA RC 197-167 03/27/2025 HJ 11 P. 42
- Mar 27, 2025SenIntroduced 03/27/2025 and Referred to Health and Human Services; SJ 10
- Apr 23, 2025SenHearing: 04/23/2025, Room 101, LOB, 10:30 am; SC 18
- Apr 23, 2025Sen==ROOM CHANGE== Hearing: 04/23/2025, Room 103, SH, 09:45 am; SC 18
- Jun 5, 2025SenCommittee Amendment # 2025-2354s, AA, VV; 06/05/2025; SJ 15
- Jun 5, 2025SenSen. Rochefort Floor Amendment # 2025-2514s, AA, VV; 06/05/2025; SJ 15
- Jun 5, 2025SenSen. Ricciardi Floor Amendment # 2025-2621s, AA, VV; 06/05/2025; SJ 15
- Jun 5, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendments #2025-2354s, and #2025-2514s #2025-2621s, RC 16Y-7N, MA; OT3rdg; 06/05/2025; SJ 15
- Jun 5, 2025SenWithout Objection, the Clerk is authorized to make technical and administrative corrections which are necessary to reflect the intent of the Senate, MA; 06/05/2025; SJ 15
- Jun 5, 2025HouseHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-2354s 2025-2514s and 2025-2621s and Requests CofC (Rep. Kofalt): MA VV 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 168
- Jun 5, 2025HouseSpeaker Appoints: Reps. W. MacDonald, Kesselring, Kofalt, Drew 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 168
- Jun 5, 2025SenSen. Rochefort Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; (In recess 06/05/2025); SJ 16
- Jun 17, 2025HouseConference Committee Meeting: 06/17/2025 03:00 pm LOB 305
- Jun 5, 2025SenPresident Appoints: Senators Rochefort, Ricciardi, Prentiss; (In Recess 06/05/2025); SJ 16
- Jun 17, 2025HouseConferee Change: Rep. S. Smith Replaces Rep. Kesselring 06/17/2025 HJ 17 P. 24
- Jun 18, 2025SenConferee Change; Senator Abbas Replaces Senator Prentiss; SJ 17
- Jun 26, 2025SenConference Committee Report Filed, # 2025-2809c; 06/26/2025
- Jun 25, 2025HouseRemoved from Consent (Reps. Weber, Lucas, Woods, Tellez, Roesener, Palmer, Schultz, LaMontagne, Hartnett, Beauchemin) 06/25/2025 HJ 18 P. 17
- Jun 26, 2025HouseConference Committee Report 2025-2809c: Adopted, RC 202-161 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 27
- Jun 26, 2025SenConference Committee Report # 2025-2809c; RC 16Y-8N, Adopted; 06/26/2025; SJ 17
- Jun 26, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/26/2025); SJ 18
- Jun 26, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 63
- Aug 1, 2025HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 08/01/2025; Chapter 275; eff. I. Sec 1 & 2 eff 01/01/2026 II. Rem eff 09/30/2025
Coverage
- New Hampshire becomes first state in New England to ban gender-affirming care for minorsThe Boston Globe · Aug 1, 2025
Ayotte signed HB 377 with HB 712, barring puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for minors from January 1, 2026.AI-generated
- N.H. Gov. Ayotte signs two bills banning transgender health care for youthWBUR · Aug 4, 2025
Coverage of the signing, including the carve-out for treatment already underway.AI-generated
- NH advocates plan next moves after governor signs bans on gender-affirming care for minorsMaine Morning Star · Aug 8, 2025
What families and providers said they would do once the law took effect.AI-generated
Background reading
Evergreen reading on the policy area — spanning perspectives — not coverage of this specific bill.
- Policy tracker: youth access to gender affirming careExplainer — national
KFF — Which states restrict care for minors, and what each law actually covers.AI-generated
- Standards of Care for the Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse People, Version 8Clinical guideline
WPATH — The guideline the treatments in question are drawn from, including its adolescent chapter.AI-generated
SCOTUSblog — The Supreme Court case on state bans, and the constitutional questions it settled and left open.AI-generated
Documents (PDF)
- Introducedversion
- As Amended by the Houseversion
- As Amended by the Senateversion
- Adopted by both chambersversion
- Chaptered (final law)version
- Amendment 2025-0893hamendment
- Amendment 2025-1049hamendment
- Amendment 2025-1083hamendment
- Amendment 2025-1316hamendment
- Amendment 2025-2354samendment
- Amendment 2025-2514samendment
- Amendment 2025-2621samendment
- Amendment 2025-2809CofCamendment
Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.