New Hampshire House refuses to either further restrict or protect abortion rights

By HOLLY RAMER
Associated Press

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — The Republican-led but closely divided New Hampshire House rejected three abortion bills Thursday, refusing to either further restrict or protect reproductive rights. Current state law prohibits abortion after 24 weeks of pregnancy, with some exceptions. The House voted Thursday in favor of asking voters to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution as well but not by a wide enough margin to advance the proposal. The House also rejected a bill that would have required abortions after 15 weeks to be performed with two doctors present and in hospitals with neonatal intensive care units and a third that would have banned abortion after 15 days gestation. The latter was akin to an outright ban as virtually no one knows they are pregnant at that point.