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HB 232 · 2026 · House · Judiciary Committee

Conscience rights for medical professionals

AI-generated

relative to the rights of conscience for medical professionals.

Requires health care institutions to notify employees who provide abortion services of their right to request accommodation for a sincerely held religious or moral objection and their option to file a complaint with the attorney general, and directs the attorney general to report annually on substantiated complaints.AI-generated

Status

Vetoed; the override vote failed, so the veto stands · August 19, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✕Governor
  5. Law

Governor's veto message

“Federal law has long protected the religious beliefs or moral convictions of medical professionals and the right to decline to perform or assist an abortion. This federal right of conscience protects those in New Hampshire who work for abortion providers. Therefore, this bill is unnecessary and does not create any greater protections for New Hampshire medical professionals. For these reasons, I have vetoed House Bill 232.”
— Gov. Kelly Ayotte · Jul 2, 2026 · excerpt
Governor's press release

The House voted 166–154 on the override (Aug 19, 2026) — short of the two-thirds required, so the veto was sustained. See the roll call.

A passage from the Governor's veto message, quoted verbatim. The full message enters the record on veto day.

Analysis

This bill requires health care institutions to provide employees who provide abortion services with written notification of their right to request a reasonable accommodation of a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction that conflicts with the employee's direct participation in an abortion and the option to file a complaint with the attorney general if they believe their request for accommodation was wrongfully denied. The bill also directs the attorney general to create an annual report regarding the number of substantiated complaints it receives.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as passed by both chambers.

“Any health care institution in New Hampshire that provides abortion services shall annually provide their employees who provide abortion services with written notification of the following:”
RSA 151:54, I

The bill imposes an annual written-notice duty on health care institutions that provide abortion services regarding employees' accommodation rights.AI-generated

“That an employee who provides abortion services may request a reasonable accommodation of a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction that conflicts with the employee's direct participation in an abortion;”
RSA 151:54, I(a)

This establishes the core right the bill notifies employees of: to request accommodation of a religious or moral objection to participating in abortions.AI-generated

“That if the employee has the reasonable belief that their request for reasonable accommodation did not pose an undue hardship on their employer, and the request was denied, the employee may file a complaint with the attorney general's office; and”
RSA 151:54, I(b)

The bill routes denied-accommodation grievances to the attorney general's office rather than through existing employment channels.AI-generated

“The attorney general's office shall annually create a report on the number of substantiated reports their office has received under this section.”
RSA 151:54, II

The bill directs the attorney general to produce an annual public report on substantiated complaints, sent to legislative leaders and the governor.AI-generated

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Mark PearsonRPrime
  • Rep. Debra DeSimoneRChair· Children and Family Law
  • Rep. JD BernardyRClerk· Science, Technology and Energy
  • Rep. Katy PeternelRVice Chair· Education Policy and Administration
  • Sen. Bill GannonRChair· Judiciary
  • Sen. Victoria SullivanRVice Chair· Education

Also: Rep. Glenn CordelliR, Rep. Jess EdwardsR, Rep. Paul TerryR, Rep. Maureen MooneyR

Public testimony

No one submitted online testimony on this bill. See the record

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 5, 2025Public hearingHouse Judiciary2:25–1:35:201h 32m 55s
  • Mar 3, 2025Executive sessionHouse Judiciary3:53:52–4:28:1134m 19s
  • Sep 10, 2025Full committee work sessionHouse Judiciary16:04–20:003m 56s
  • Nov 12, 2025Executive sessionHouse Judiciary26:56–1:03:0636m 10s
  • Jan 8, 2026Floor debateHouse floor3:10:06–3:21:2311m 17s
  • Mar 18, 2026Public hearingSenate Health and Human Services33:08–1:43:511h 10m 43s
  • May 14, 2026Floor debateSenate floor9:12:30–9:17:385m 8s
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Adopted — voice vote
  • Aug 19, 2026Floor debateHouse floor46:25–51:375m 12slocated in the stream transcriptVeto Sustained — roll call 166-154

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 8, 2025HouseIntroduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Judiciary HJ 2 P. 11
  2. Feb 5, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/05/2025 09:30 am LOB 206-208
  3. Mar 3, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/03/2025 10:00 am LOB 206-208
  4. Mar 4, 2025HouseRetained in Committee
  5. Sep 10, 2025HouseFull Committee Work Session: 09/10/2025 10:00 am GP 230
  6. Nov 12, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 11/12/2025 10:00 am GP 230
  7. Nov 12, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2932h 11/12/2025 (Vote 10-7; RC) HC 51 P. 39
  8. Nov 19, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  9. Jan 8, 2026HouseAmendment # 2025-2932h: AA VV 01/08/2026 HJ 2 P. 45
  10. Jan 8, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2932h: MA RC 184-164 01/08/2026 HJ 2 P. 47
  11. Jan 7, 2026SenIntroduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Health and Human Services; SJ 2
  12. Mar 18, 2026SenHearing: 03/18/2026, Room 100, SH, 09:30 am; SC 10
  13. May 7, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1624s, 05/07/2026, Vote 3-1; SC 17
  14. May 14, 2026SenSpecial Order to 05/14/2026, Without Objection, MA; 05/07/2026 SJ 11
  15. May 14, 2026SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1624s, 05/14/2026, Vote 3-1; SC 18
  16. May 14, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1624s, AA, VV; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
  17. May 14, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1624s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
  18. May 20, 2026HouseHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1624s (Rep. Lynn): MA RC 179-154 05/20/2026 HJ 14 P. 16
  19. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  20. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  21. Jul 2, 2026HouseVetoed by Governor Ayotte 07/02/2026
  22. Aug 19, 2026HouseVeto Sustained 08/19/2026: RC 166-154 Lacking Necessary Two-Thirds Vote HJ 16

Coverage

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.