New Hampshire proposal would create more protections for the unborn

Republican representatives in the state House pre-filed a bill protecting unborn children from abortion after 15 days of gestation. Under the Fetal Life Protection Act, abortion past two weeks would only be legal if a mother’s life were at risk or the baby was at risk for “abnormalities incompatible with life.” The current New Hampshire law, enacted in 2022, protects a child after 24 weeks of gestation. Anyone knowingly violating the proposed bill would be charged with a felony and fined up to $100,000.

What’s the bill’s reception? Democrats are already pushing against the bill before it is even formally proposed. State Rep. Alexis Simpson, D-N.H., described the legislation as “absurd,” saying the bill must be “completely renounced.” Republican Governor Chris Sununu has not indicated his stance on the pre-filed legislation. Sununu signed the latest 24-week protection into law while also describing himself as “pro-choice” and promising to protect state access to abortion.

Dig deeper: Read Leah Savas’ report in WORLD Magazine on mothers and doctors suing Texas over abortion protections.