New Hampshire Gov Kelly Ayotte Vetoes Bill to Protect Pro-Life Doctors, Nurses

Yesterday, New Hampshire Gov Ayotte (R) vetoed HB232, a bill that would have simply given healthcare workers a place to complain to if they were forced to perform abortions against their conscience; it contained no penalties after an amendment by the NH Senate.

By not having penalties, the bill was to the left of California, Massachusetts, and New York, which have real conscience protections. 47 states in total have conscience protections to prevent healthcare workers from being forced to perform abortions by their employer.

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Jason Hennessey, President of NH Right to Life, said:

• “It’s difficult to understand why Gov Ayotte wouldn’t want healthcare providers to follow their conscience”.
• “We need more health care workers in New Hampshire, not fewer. HB232 would have told the vast majority of doctors and nurses that refuse to perform abortions that they are welcome here like they are in 47 other states.”
  • Over 85% of OB/Gyns refuse to perform abortion.
• “HB667 asked for transparency in the classroom. HB232 asked for tolerance in the workplace. Neither should be controversial.”
  • HB667 was a bill Gov Ayotte vetoed in 2025 that would have added fetal development to health education.
• “The Governor called HB232 unnecessary. Unnecessary? Ask the nurse in Vermont who was traumatized after being forced to perform an abortion. Though the US DOJ took action under Trump, they stopped when Biden took over” [0,1]
• “We ask Gov Ayotte to empower the many healthcare workers who believe children in the womb are precious and deserve protection”

Rep Mark Pearson (R-Hampstead), prime sponsor of HB232, said: “I find it difficult to believe the Governor would not uphold a person’s right to exercise conscience at work. This bill, sometimes in stronger terms, is the law of the land in numerous states, liberal and conservative alike”.

See attached for more details and citations (NHRTL’s written testimony in the NH Senate).

0: UVM nurse traumatized; DOJ pursued enforcement: https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/local/vermont/2019/08/28/federal-government-university-of-vermont-medical-center-nurse-abortion/2142199001/

1: DOJ dropped the action against UVM after Biden admin took over: https://vtdigger.org/2021/08/02/justice-department-drops-abortion-lawsuit-against-uvm-medical-center/