HB1250

Nothing but another attempt to strip women of their protection in the workplace.

This is trying to strip away parental leave rights that were recently implemented.

Employers are not more important or valuable to the state than employees are. Employees are necessary and incredibly valuable. New Hampshire lawmakers in 2025 and 2026 really want to make life harder for women who live in this state. Employers do not need protections from mothers who need to take their children to appointments at the last moment. You cannot complain about declining birth rates and then make it harder for mothers to have and take care of their children. MOMNIBUS 2.0 won some very important protections for women in this state so that we CAN have more families here. Which we desperately need giving how old our population is becoming. Women have the right to work and also be mothers. We refuse to settle for less.

As of someone who is currently pregnant and I’m at the very early stages so sometimes there’s just complications and you call your doctor and they say OK let’s get you an appointment next week. How am I supposed to be able to tell my job and feel secure in my job That I really need to go to this appointment next week but I have to give them a two week advancement that makes no sense.

NH economy is already difficult for working mothers. Support NH’s working moms by opposing this bill and promoting opportunities to prioritize infant health.

Momnibus 2.0 is important for New Hampshire. State recognition about the possible affects childbirth on some mothers. Depression is real and the affects of childbirth on a new mother can be a mountain to climb when facing mental health issues due to giving birth. Having more road blocks in the way, when mothers often already feel shame at being depressed in the first place, will cause mothers to suffer. We must make it easier to see warning signs and allow mothers to take care of their children and themselves. Mothers need to be able to nurture their children, to do this they need to be in good mental health, our future depends upon it.

I oppose this bill.

This is unfairly prejudicial towards women and will have severe impact on families and women balancing careers and personal life.

I strongly oppose this bill.

I vehemently oppose any bill that limits a parent ability to car for their family’s medical needs or demands the choice between economic ability and the welfare of their family. This is an abhorrent attempt to backslide civil rights. And any politician who is willing to vote in favor of this bill should be ashamed of themselves!

Families should not have their children required to learn about hunting and wildlife management and firearms use if they do not want to. Not all families, and not all kids, are comfortable with firearms in general. This should be a decision left up to the families and their children based on an individual basis.

Newborns don’t give a 15 day heads-up before they get sick.

My name is Dr. Ryan Bailey, PT, DPT. I am a licensed pelvic floor physical therapist specializing in pregnancy and postpartum care, and I am also a mother of two. I am submitting testimony in strong opposition to the amended language requiring “at least 15 calendar days’ notice” prior to taking leave for childbirth-related, postpartum, or infant medical appointments. This requirement is not only unrealistic, it fundamentally misunderstands the realities of postpartum healing, infant health, and the current medical system families are navigating. As both a clinician and a mother, I can say unequivocally: there is no way for parents to reliably predict medical needs 15 days in advance during the first year postpartum. Infants do not get sick on a schedule. Feeding difficulties, infections, breathing concerns, and growth issues often arise suddenly and require prompt medical attention. Expecting parents to anticipate these needs two weeks in advance is detached from real life. Similarly, postpartum recovery is not linear or predictable. As a pelvic floor physical therapist, I routinely work with mothers who experience: -Sudden increases in pain -Signs of infection or delayed healing -Worsening pelvic floor symptoms -Complications related to tearing, cesarean recovery, or prolapse -Mental health concerns that require urgent evaluation These are not issues that can be responsibly delayed to satisfy an arbitrary notice period. Requiring 15 days’ notice effectively forces parents to choose between: Attending medically necessary appointments, or Protecting their employment That is not a reasonable choice to impose on families during one of the most physically and emotionally vulnerable periods of their lives. In practice, this language will discourage parents from seeking timely care, which increases the risk of medical complications, prolonged recovery, and long-term health consequences. That outcome benefits no one, including employers. The amended language also allows employers to require documentation to “ensure the time is being used for its intended purpose.” This is deeply concerning. Medical appointments related to postpartum recovery and infant care often involve highly private, sensitive health information. Employers do not need, nor should they have access to, confirmation or details of a parent’s medical care beyond what is already protected under existing employment and medical privacy laws. Requiring proof for unpaid leave sends a clear message of mistrust toward parents at a time when support is most needed. The original language requiring reasonable notice appropriately balanced the needs of employers with the realities of family health. Replacing it with a rigid 15-day requirement shifts that balance entirely onto the backs of parents and infants. Reasonableness allows flexibility: Advance notice when appointments can be planned Grace when medical needs arise suddenly A fixed 15-day rule does not reflect medical reality and does not improve workplace function. It simply creates unnecessary conflict and hardship. As a healthcare provider who sees the consequences of delayed postpartum and pediatric care, and as a mother who has lived through the unpredictability of the first year postpartum [twice], I urge you to reconsider this amendment. Families are not asking for paid leave, unlimited time off, or special treatment. They are asking for a modest, humane allowance to attend essential medical appointments without risking their jobs or their privacy. The “at least 15 days’ notice” requirement undermines the intent of this bill and places an unreasonable burden on parents during a critical period of health and recovery. I respectfully ask that this language be removed and that the standard of reasonable notice be preserved. Thank you for your time and consideration. Dr. Ryan Bailey, PT, DPT, WCS, CPPNS Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist Mother of Two

This bill is outrageous. In no way, shape, or form should this bill be passed.

Any legislation that would minimize an employee's (or their family member's) rights in such an arbitrary and capricious manner SHOULD BE considered an proposal of embarrassment... to the sponsor and ANYONE who might consider supporting it.

The only purpose of this bill is to punish women. Pregnancy and childbirth are unpredictable health processes, much like many other medical needs. Expecting anyone to be able to plan in advance for something or risk losing employment is cruel, illogical, and would be catastrophic for working women. While this is probably the whole point of this abominable legislation proposal, I will go on record in strong opposition.

Chair & Members of the Committee, My name is Kendall Sebastian and I am a lifelong NH resident and homeowner. I respectfully urge you to oppose HB 1250. This bill weakens protections for working families at times when stability and flexibility are most needed. Pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and pediatric medical needs are often unpredictable, and policies should reflect that reality rather than create new barriers or uncertainty around job protection. HB 1250 shifts power away from workers -- particularly caregivers and parents -- and toward employers, disproportionately impacting women, lower-income workers, and hourly employees. We should be strengthening policies that support families, workforce participation, and child wellbeing, not moving backward. New Hampshire families already face significant challenges related to healthcare, childcare, and paid leave. HB 1250 adds unnecessary strain instead of providing support. For these reasons I emphatically oppose HB 1250. Thank you for your consideration, Kendall Sebastian Dover, NH

Protecting pregnant women in the workplace is crucial for maternal/child health, economic stability, and gender equity, preventing forced choices between a job and a healthy pregnancy. I have been trying to protect women's rights for over 50 years. stop going back into the dark ages and please release that all people are people and deserve protection and rights.

Explain to me the purpose of this bill. I thought Republicans just loved babies and women. This bill interferes with and inhibits their medical care. I oppose this bill.

As a mom of a toddler who experienced an injury that required us to go to the Pediatric Emergency Department at Eliot and then down to Boston Children’s, I’m dismayed that this bill is even being considered. We left our home at 10 am that morning and returned at 10 pm. There is no way either my husband nor I could have worked and we had no way of knowing 15 days before that my son was going to fall and need stitches on his face. In fact I never have a two week notice that my son is going to need medical attention whether that be an ear infection, RSV, or the other bugs he’s exposed to on a daily basis in public or at daycare. In regards to childbirth and postpartum visits, the risk that someone may delay seeking critical medical attention for a potential complication because they didn’t give their employer two weeks notice is appalling. This bill will hurt moms and kids and the economy when moms leave the workforce.

This bill is not for the citizens of NH, this gives more power and excuses to employers in an at will state. Pregnant women and new parents are already stressed, they don't need to be worried abut a medical emergency or soemthing they can't plan 15 days ahead of time to cause them to lose their job. There's an implication on families and unemployment rates, I do not see any positive for NH.

Parents NEED flexibility to take children to appointments! And it should never be at the risk of loosing a job. Children should come first - always. This bill was clearly not intended to better our community or our workforce.

Another attack on to women's rifghts and rights of pregnant and/or new, working mothers.

This is unfair - people should not lose their jobs because they are choosing to have children. What kind of message is this sending in regards to family values?

Please reject this bill. Protecting the health of babies fortifies the labor force for the long term. Preventative care (including administering routine vaccines) contributes to public health, ensuring less absenteeism to care for sick children or those exposed to illness.