HB 1416 · 2026 · House · Judiciary Committee

Studying pregnancy center free speech

(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.

Creates a legislative study committee to examine existing legal protections for the free expression of pregnancy resource centers and determine whether additional First Amendment safeguards are needed, reporting findings by November 2026.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 13, 2026

✓Introduced
✕House
Senate
Governor
Law

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.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as amended by the Senate. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“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.”

Section 1

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

Section 2

“The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section.”

Section 4

“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.”

Section 5

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Public testimony

1,055 signed in online · 195 wrote testimony

15% support85% oppose0% neutral

ForPRCs provide valuable free support to women and families

AgainstPRCs are unlicensed and can mislead patients medically

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“February 25, 2026 Honorable Members of the Judiciary Committee: Thank you for the opportunity to speak today.…”

— Kellie Ljungholm, Concord · Care Women's Centersupports

“Pregnancy resource centers are so kind and support and aid out of many difficult situation”

— Rebekah Fox, Bowsupports

“I live in Lebanon, NH, and many, many women who wanted to choose life for their unborn babies have been befriended, helped, and supported to do so by our local Dayspring Pregnancy Center of the Upper Valley, with locations in both West Lebanon, and in Claremont.…”

— Constance LeBlanc, Lebanonsupports

“The people contaminating our water with PFAS need to take responsibility for it and do the right thing.”

— Bonnie Hill, South Suttonopposes

“Terminally ill or unwanted fetuses/children should not be brought into a society that doesn’t help to provide for their care and support them as children.. Many representatives want pregnancies to be completed, but vote against feeding, educating and housing the children & families.…”

— Diane Tregea, Durhamopposes

“Legislators should focus time and efforts on legislation that would provide support to families and children rather than trying to control -- by a controlling ideology -- the providers of needed healthcare services.…”

— Robin Mower, Durhamopposes

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

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay

Starting text: Bill as introduced

Feb 27, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate9–8
Overall
53% yea
Mar 12, 2026HouseVoice voteSpecial Order to the next order of business (Rep. Osborne)adopted
Mar 13, 2026HouseRoll callInexpedient to LegislateFailed165–176How they voted
Overall
48% yea
Party-line vote
Republicans
9–1755% yea
Democrats
156–199% yea
Mar 12, 2026HouseRoll callAmendment 2026-0916hAdopted179–161How they voted
Overall
53% yea
Party-line vote
Republicans
179–498% yea
Democrats
0–1570% yea
Mar 12, 2026HouseRoll callLay HB1406 on Table (Rep. N. Germana)Failed165–174How they voted
Overall
49% yea
Party-line vote
Republicans
9–1745% yea
Democrats
156–0100% yea
Mar 12, 2026HouseRoll callOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0916hAdopted176–163How they voted
Overall
52% yea
Party-line vote
Republicans
176–796% yea
Democrats
0–1560% yea
Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
May 14, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1912s3–2
Overall
60% yea
May 14, 2026SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2026-1912sadopted
May 14, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1912sadopted
Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
May 14, 2026HouseVoice voteHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1912s and Requests CofC (Rep. Lynn)adopted
May 21, 2026SenateVoice voteSen. Gannon Refused to Accede to House Request for Committee of Conferenceadopted

Hearings and debates

Feb 25, 2026Public hearingHouse Judiciary51:03–1:04:5713m 54slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing; Executive Session
Mar 12, 2026Floor debateHouse floor6:43:07–6:58:1615m 9slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0916h — adopted, roll call 176-163; Amendment # 2026-0916h — adopted, roll call 179-161; Special Order to the next order of business (Rep. Osborne) — adopted, voice vote
Apr 28, 2026Public hearingSenate Judiciary2:50:28–3:01:4211m 14slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
May 14, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1912s and Requests CofC (Rep. Lynn) — adopted, voice vote; Speaker Appoints: Reps. Peternel, Kuttab, Scully, McFarlane
May 14, 2026Floor debateSenate floor9:53:51–9:57:393m 48slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1912s; Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1912s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-1912s — adopted, voice vote
May 21, 2026Floor debateSenate floor3:27:02–3:27:5856slocated in the stream transcriptSen. Gannon Refused to Accede to House Request for Committee of Conference — adopted, voice vote

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Judiciary HJ 1 P. 19
Feb 25, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/25/2026 10:00 am GP 230
Feb 25, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/25/2026 10:00 am GP 230
Feb 27, 2026HouseMajority : Inexpedient to Legislate 02/27/2026 (Vote 9-8; RC) HC 10 P. 100
Mar 4, 2026HouseMinority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0916h
Mar 12, 2026HouseSpecial Order to the next order of business (Rep. Osborne): MA VV 03/12/2026 HJ 8 P. 89
Mar 13, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MF RC 165-176 03/13/2026 HJ 8 P. 90
Mar 12, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0916h: AA RC 179-161 03/12/2026 HJ 8 P. 92
Mar 12, 2026HouseLay HB1406 on Table (Rep. N. Germana): MF RC 165-174 03/12/2026 HJ 8 P. 94
Mar 12, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0916h: MA RC 176-163 03/12/2026 HJ 8 P. 96
Mar 12, 2026SenIntroduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 7
Apr 28, 2026SenHearing: 04/28/2026, Room 100, SH, 01:40 pm; SC 17
May 14, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1912s, 05/14/2026, Vote 3-2; SC 18A
May 14, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1912s, AA, VV; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
May 14, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1912s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
May 14, 2026HouseHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1912s and Requests CofC (Rep. Lynn): MA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 152
May 14, 2026HouseSpeaker Appoints: Reps. Peternel, Kuttab, Scully, McFarlane 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 152
May 21, 2026SenSen. Gannon Refused to Accede to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; 05/21/2026; SJ 13

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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