Committee hears passionate testimony on "abortion-pill reversal" notice bill

Representative Sam Farrington introduced HB1702, which would require providers who prescribe medication abortion to give advance notice about a purported procedure called "abortion-pill reversal," in which high-dose progesterone is used after mifepristone to attempt to sustain a pregnancy.

Farrington said the bill does not ban medication abortion but would post notices and supply contact information for resources that may offer reversal treatment. "This bill does not ban or prevent chemical abortion in New Hampshire. It only requires that when a doctor prescribes the abortion pill, they must give advanced notice that it is possible to undo the effects of mifepristone," he said.

Medical witnesses opposed the measure. Dr. Charlotte Hastings, an OB-GYN practicing in New Hampshire, called reversal procedures "unproven and medically unethical," citing a 2012 small case series and a stopped randomized trial (2020) that raised safety concerns. She and representatives of Planned Parenthood and the ACLU warned the bill would compel providers to give medically inaccurate information and raise First Amendment and privacy issues.

Supporters, including some legislators and pregnancy-resource-center representatives, said the notice would expand informed consent and direct women to services and support resources. Testimony referenced conflicting studies and case literature; committee members challenged sponsors on evidence and asked about implementation details such as signage and hotline numbers.

The committee took testimony from multiple medical professionals, advocates, and faith-based groups; no committee vote was recorded during the hearing.