I write in strong opposition to House Bill 1248 (a legislative proposal in NH imposing a ban on abortion at 15 days). I have gone back and forth with co-sponsors of the bill. It is clear to me that their oversimplification of the intricate landscape of reproductive health care laws will do nothing but harm Granite Staters. We have already seen the detrimental effect that trigger laws and near total abortion bans in other states have had on the lives of women and people who can get pregnant. We have also seen the reluctance of maternity care providers to work in states where they might face legal challenges to their practice.

Since the fall of Roe, NH legislators have been slowly chipping away at our bodily autonomy. In 2021, a 24-week ban was implemented without voter consent. Now, we are faced with HB-1248, a near total abortion ban considering most people are unaware of their pregnancies at such an early stage. Both pieces of legislation were introduced without direct voter input, and they infringe on decisions that should remain between Granite Staters and their health care providers. I urge you to contact your NH state representative today and ask them to oppose HB 1248. If legislators are interested in helping reduce the rates of unintended pregnancies, they should instead advocate for policies that prioritize access to health care, affordable contraception, comprehensive sex education, and empower people to make informed decisions about their bodies.

Katie DeAngelis

Nottingham