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HB 1250 · 2026 · House · Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services Committee

Notice rules for newborn parental leave

AI-generated

relative to notice, documentation, and job reinstatement requirements under leave of absence for childbirth, postpartum, and pediatric medical appointments.

Requires employees at businesses with 20 or more workers to give at least 15 days' notice before taking leave for childbirth, postpartum, or infant pediatric appointments, and allows employers to deny job reinstatement if it would unduly disrupt operations.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · February 5, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill clarifies that employees shall give at least 15 days’ notice to take leave for childbirth-related medical appointments and allows employers to deny job reinstatement if doing so would unduly disrupt operations.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Ross BerryRPrimeChair· Election Law

Public testimony

332 signed in online · 116 wrote testimony

0% support100% oppose0% neutral

AgainstMedical needs of infants and postpartum mothers can't be predicted 15 days out

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“This bill would disproportionately target women and lead to worse outcomes for mothers, infants, and families.…”
— Sophie Merrow, Portsmouthopposes
“This bill would require employees to give at least 15 days notice for postpartum or pediatric appointments, and would allow employers to deny job reinstatement post-leave. This would disproportionately target women and lead to worse outcomes for mothers, infants, and families.…”
— Martha Merrow, Strathamopposes
“As I understand it, this bill would require employees to give at least 15 days notice for postpartum and pediatric appointments, and would allow employers to deny job reinstatement post-leave.…”
— Lucas Merrow, Rollinsfordopposes

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings

  • 2026-01-2011:30 amHouse Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative ServicesGP 159Public hearing
  • 2026-01-2710:00 amHouse Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative ServicesGP 159Public hearing

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services HJ 1 P. 12
  2. Jan 20, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/20/2026 03:15 pm GP 159
  3. Jan 27, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 01/27/2026 10:00 am GP 159
  4. Jan 27, 2026House: Inexpedient to Legislate 01/27/2026 (Vote 20-0; CC) HC 5 P. 9
  5. Feb 5, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 02/05/2026 HJ 3 P. 12

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.