[Editor’s note: This article originally appeared on InDepthNH.org and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. Some language reflects the terminology used by the original publication rather than NewBostonPost’s editorial style.]

by GARRY RAYNO, InDepthNH.org, InDepthNH.org
March 12, 2026

CONCORD — The House voted Thursday to extend the statute of limitations for legal action by a person who underwent gender transition procedures or treatments as a minor.

Currently the statute of limitations would end at age 20, but the bill would extend it to the age of 28.

Bill supporter Rep. Kristine Perez, R-Londonderry, said some children begin the transition process as young as 12 or 14 years old and experience side effects as well as remorse as they age.

She said lawmakers have recently heard people are not really mature until they reach the age of 27 so the bill would be appropriate.

But Rep. Alice Wade, D-Dover, said the bill does nothing to address any issue and is purely a waste of time.

She said she is an example of the life saving effects that result when she transitioned as a minor. “I am alive today because of the care I received as a minor,” Wade said.

When opponents tried to find someone who has remorse over their gender transition for the public hearing on the bill, she said, they had to go out-of-state to find two individuals to testify.

The bill passed on a 180-146 vote and now goes to the Senate which has about 10 other bills seeking to limit the use of bathrooms by transgender individuals as well as locker rooms and prisons, or transgender individuals participating in women's sports, or extending legal options against medical providers.

The House also approved House Bill 1447 which would restrict the use of public and private facilities on the basis of sex without qualifying as discrimination.

Under the bill, segregating people by their biological sex would be permitted in “intimate facilities” such as restrooms, locker rooms, changing areas, and sleeping quarters, or areas where individuals undress, use toilet facilities, shower, or sleep.

Private businesses would also be allowed to make similar distinctions and restrictions under the bill.

Rep. Lisa Mazur, R-Goffstown, said in today’s landscape, a man can declare he is a woman and step into intimate places where women are and if women object they are called bigots or biased.

She said the bill would “draw a clean line” that would protect single sex facilities without smears or litigation.

But Rep. Billie Butler, D-Somersworth, said there is no record in New Hampshire of a transgender woman committing assault in a bathroom so there is no need for a solution for a problem “we don’t have. This has been created for political and literal currency.”

New Hampshire has always been a live and let live state, Butler said.

The bill passed on a 184-154 vote and goes to the Senate.

Similar bills have been vetoed by both former Gov. Chris Sununu and current Gov. Kelly Ayotte.

Ayotte has already vetoed one very similar bill to HB 1447 this session.

In her veto message she said the bill would be very difficult to enforce and would open the state to litigation while infringing on individual rights.

“I made it clear this issue needed to be addressed in a thoughtful, narrow way that protects the privacy, safety, and rights of all Granite Staters,” Ayotte said in her veto message earlier this year.

The legislature has spent a great deal of time this session debating the issue with the same results approving the bills seeking to segregate public facilities on biological sex that are likely to be vetoed.

A federal court case has allowed two transgender youth to play on women’s sports teams as well.

Also Thursday, the House passed House Bill 1184 which establishes a procedure for issuing trespass orders on municipal or school district properties.

Under the bill, a governing body like selectmen or a school board would be able to approve the order in a public meeting with written findings and a 90-day limit.

A hearing can be requested after the order and any extension beyond the 90 days would require judicial action.

An emergency order may be issued with a three-fifths majority and a person can be designated to act by the governing body.

The bill was generated by an incident in Bow when a parent of a Bow High School student wore a bracelet indicating disapproval of a transgender player on the opposing team at a soccer game.

A no trespassing order was served against the parent and several others who wore the same bracelets.

Garry Rayno may be reached at garry.rayno@yahoo.com.

This article first appeared on InDepthNH.org and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.