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HB 1313 · 2026 · House · Judiciary Committee

Repealing abortion clinic buffer zones

AI-generated

repealing buffer zones for reproductive health care facilities.

Repeals the state law prohibiting people from entering or remaining on a public way or sidewalk within a buffer zone adjacent to a reproductive health care facility.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 11, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill repeals the prohibition on entering or remaining on a public way or sidewalk adjacent to a reproductive health care facility.

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

“RSA 132:37 through 132:40, relative to access to reproductive health care facilities, are repealed.”
Section 3

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Cyril AuresRPrime

Rep. Mike BelcherR, Rep. Michael GrangerR, Rep. James ThibaultR, Rep. Clayton WoodR

Public testimony

1,423 signed in online · 387 wrote testimony

1% support99% oppose0% neutral

ForCurrent law improperly restricts free speech in public spaces

AgainstBuffer zones protect patients and staff from harassment

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Remove all protections under the law for abortion providers and facilities. Remove all access for abortion in the state of New Hampshire. End the new Holocaust.”
— DANIEL Cushman, Merrimacksupports
“The current law restricts free speech and that the bill aligns with supreme court precedents, such as McCullen v. Coakley, regarding sidewalk counseling. We need to uphold constitutional rights.”
— Brian Fox, Hamptonsupports
“You cannot restrict public access in public spaces. If protestors can stand where ever they want on public property for just about anything else, you can make special rules for specific places.”
— Sae-Hee Palanski, Derrysupports
“NHMS Opposes HB 1313. While the First Amendment protects the right to peaceably assemble, it does not provide an absolute right to protest at any time, in any location, or in any manner.…”
— Cathy Stratton, Concord · New Hampshire Medical Societyopposes
“It's quite telling that not a single woman co-sponsored this bill; only men who will never have to experience the trauma they intend to inflict with this legislation. I pray for the daughters and granddaughters who have to suffer with these men.”
— Christie Davis, Contoocookopposes
“Patient safety zones are there to protect patients and allow them to access care without harrassment, intimidation or obstruction. Every patient deserves that right, no matter the healthcare services they are accessing.…”
— Wendy Wetherbee, Derryopposes

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 13, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass10–8
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseDivisionOught to PassFailed158–170
    Overall
    48% yea
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseRoll callInexpedient to LegislateAdopted171–163How they voted
    Overall
    51% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    15–1638% yea
    Democrats
    156–0100% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 11, 2026Public hearingHouse Judiciary4:51:50–5:06:3514m 45slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 13, 2026Public hearingHouse Judiciary51:36–52:501m 14slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 11, 2026Floor debateHouse floor11:22:44–11:30:307m 46slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass — failed, division 158-170; Inexpedient to Legislate — adopted, roll call 171-163

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Judiciary HJ 1 P. 15
  2. Feb 11, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/11/2026 02:00 pm GP 230
  3. Feb 13, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/13/2026 10:00 am GP 158
  4. Feb 13, 2026HouseMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass 02/13/2026 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 10 P. 57
  5. Feb 27, 2026HouseMinority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Mar 11, 2026HouseOught to Pass: MF DV 158-170 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 237
  7. Mar 11, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA RC 171-163 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 238

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Background reading

Evergreen reading on the policy area — spanning perspectives — not coverage of this specific bill.

Documents (PDF)

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