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Contested hearing on HB 191: sponsors call it anti‑trafficking measure; opponents warn of privacy, enforcement and constitutional problems
Summary
HB 191 drew sharply divided testimony: sponsors described it as a narrowly tailored anti‑trafficking measure to stop adults from transporting or procuring abortions for unemancipated minors without parental consent; medical, civil‑liberties and advocacy witnesses said the bill is broader than the sponsor suggests and could harm vulnerable young people and raise constitutional problems.
Rep. Glenn Cordelli introduced HB 191 (as amended), describing it as criminalizing transportation, harboring or procurement of an abortion for an unemancipated minor without parental consent where the adult’s act conceals abuse or trafficking. Cordelli and supporters repeatedly cited trafficking case counts, local prosecutions and family testimony; sponsor said statute targets adult predators and traffickers and includes judicial bypass and medical‑emergency exceptions.
Supporters at the hearing included New Hampshire Right to Life and family members of alleged victims; they urged the committee to view the bill as a tool to prevent abusers from covering offenses by arranging abortions for minors. They cited trafficking reports and high‑profile local cases to argue the state needs a statutory tool.
Opponents included medical providers (Medical Society of New Hampshire, Planned Parenthood), the ACLU of New Hampshire, social‑work groups, and several medical witnesses who warned the bill would chill care, risk minors’ health, and raise constitutional concerns including free‑speech and right‑to‑travel implications. Physician witnesses described adolescent‑health realities: teens who cannot safely involve parents, higher medical risk for some teenage pregnancies, and the limits of emancipation procedures. The ACLU and medical witnesses highlighted vagueness in the bill’s harboring/transport language and the possibility that trusted adults (relatives, counselors) could be criminalized.
The chair closed the public hearing after extensive testimony and several members signaled draft amendments could follow. No committee vote was taken.
