The bill, SB 551-FN, establishes a new chapter titled "Reproductive Health Care Access" in New Hampshire law, affirming the right to reproductive health care for all individuals within the state. It defines "reproductive health care" to include services related to pregnancy, contraception, and termination of pregnancy. The bill prohibits government officials and police from cooperating with out-of-state investigations into protected health care activities and ensures that health care providers cannot face adverse actions for engaging in these activities. It also restricts malpractice insurers from considering certain aspects of these services and limits the enforcement of foreign judgments related to reproductive health care. Additionally, the bill introduces legal recourse for individuals facing "abusive litigation" aimed at deterring their access to reproductive health care, allowing them to file civil actions against those who interfere with their rights.

Furthermore, SB 551-FN includes provisions that protect medical providers from disciplinary actions based on their provision of legally protected health care services, as long as they comply with New Hampshire standards. It prohibits the dissemination of certain criminal or disciplinary records related to these services and ensures that malpractice insurers cannot discriminate against providers based on their offering of reproductive health care services that may be deemed unlawful in other states. The bill also establishes that foreign judgments related to litigation concerning protected health care activities cannot be filed unless required by federal law, and extradition demands for individuals charged with related crimes will not be recognized unless the demanding state proves the accused was present there at the time of the alleged crime. Overall, SB 551-FN aims to create a robust legal framework that safeguards reproductive health care access and protects individuals and providers from external legal pressures.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 310:9, 310:10, 332-I:2, 404-C:5, 612:6, 612:14
SB551 text: 310:9, 310:10, 332-I:2, 404-C:5, 612:6, 612:14