Our future depends on protecting abortion rights in New Hampshire

In the two years since then Dobbs/Jackson Following the Supreme Court decision, the landscape of abortion care and reproductive freedom has changed dramatically in the United States. We are at a critical juncture in New Hampshire. Despite sustained efforts to codify abortion rights, our state laws still lack clear protections for the right to abortion. This neglect leaves Granite Staters vulnerable, and now more than ever we must take decisive action to protect reproductive freedom.

Voters need to know the facts: New Hampshire Republicans have a long-standing history of attacking reproductive freedom and trying to roll back abortion rights. Later dobbs After the resolution was rejected, House Republicans immediately tried to pass a six-week abortion ban, and a majority supported the legislation.

House Republicans have also refused to support legislation that would protect reproductive rights, leaving New Hampshire as the only state in New England without clear legal protections for access to abortion. Their records clearly show that reproductive rights remain at risk.

Fortunately, House Democrats were able to stop Republicans’ 15-week, 6-week, and 15-day abortion bans; But blocking anti-abortion legislation is only part of the fight for reproductive freedom. If we want to ensure Granite Staters have the freedom to make personal health care decisions without government interference, we must do more.

As part of the NH House Democrats’ Freedom and Affordability Agenda for 2025-2026, I introduced legislation to legalize abortion rights in New Hampshire. It is concerning that we remain the only state in New England without abortion protections in law. We continue to face real threats to further restrict or ban abortion altogether. House Democrats will fight relentlessly to protect the right to abortion care.

Ensuring abortion rights are enshrined in state law is vital to guaranteeing the right of future generations of Granite Staters to make personal health choices. Decisions about reproductive care should be made between the patient and the healthcare provider, not by politicians. This is not a radical suggestion; It reflects the fundamental values ​​of freedom and autonomy that our state has long supported. We must move forward to secure our rights despite Republican efforts to block these protections.

Make no mistake: The fight for reproductive rights is far from over. Without clear legal protections for abortion, our rights remain at risk. To protect everyone’s freedom and reproductive rights, we need to elect more Democrats who support access to abortion this November.

This struggle is about more than abortion; it’s about bodily autonomy and the right to make personal decisions without government interference. If anti-abortion politicians gain more power, we risk further restrictions on abortion as well as attacks on birth control, birth control, and even IVF.

New Hampshire has long been known as a state where individual freedoms are valued and respected. It is time for our laws to reflect these values. This November, members of Granite Staters face a clear choice: Will we defend reproductive freedom, or let politicians dictate our personal healthcare decisions? The choice is clear. We must elect leaders who will protect our rights and move us forward, not backward.

Our future and our freedoms depend on it.

Rep. Alexis Simpson, D-Exeter, serves as deputy House Democratic leader in the New Hampshire House of Representatives.

This article was first published in the Portsmouth Herald: Simpson: Our future depends on protecting abortion rights in NH