The governor of the purple state of New Hampshire has made the bold move of signing legislation banning “gender-affirming” procedures for minor children, a decision that followed the controversial vetoing of multiple bills that upheld conservative values in the politically embattled state.
For background, on August 1, 2025, press accounts confirmed that New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte had signed laws that banned gender-altering procedures for minors. The decision was reportedly opposed universally by state Democrats, but Republicans celebrated the governor’s move, which followed intense criticism for her previous vetoes.
Explaining the decision to sign the legislation, Gov. Ayotte reportedly said, “Medical decisions made at a young age can carry lifelong consequences, and these bills represent a balanced, bipartisan effort to protect children.” In addition, State Rep. Lisa Mazur (R-Goffstown) and several other Republican lawmakers celebrated the decision, with Mazur calling it a form of “commonsense safeguards.”
In addition, State Sen. Kevin Avard (R-Concord) also praised the governor’s decision, saying, “This is just plain common sense. Kids shouldn’t be given life-altering puberty-blocking drugs or irreversible…surgeries that alter their bodies forever before they’re even old enough to understand the consequences.” He continued, “I was proud to co-sponsor these bills, and I am thrilled that Governor Ayotte signed them into law. We’ve finally drawn the line and said, ‘Not in New Hampshire.’”
Continuing, Rep. Mazur said that New Hampshire had become the first state in New England and the Northeastern United States “to take this important step to protect vulnerable youth.” She added, “I’m proud to stand with families across our state in putting children’s safety and well-being first. Thank you to my colleagues and Governor Ayotte for their leadership.”
Importantly, Gov. Ayotte previously vetoed House Bill 148 on July 15, 2025, a bill that was created to protect women’s and girls’ intimate spaces. In a statement regarding the decision, the governor said that while the bill presented “important and legitimate privacy and safety concerns” pertaining to “biological males using places such as female locker rooms and being placed in female correctional facilities,” She concluded, “At the same time, I see that House Bill 148 is overly broad and impractical to enforce, potentially creating an exclusionary environment for some of our citizens.”
Furthermore, the governor said that she believes that “the legislature should address this serious issue” using a “thoughtful and narrow” approach that “protects the privacy, safety, and rights of all New Hampshire citizens.” The governor then clarified that she was concerned that the bill “will spur a plethora of litigation against local communities and businesses.”
Additionally, Gov. Ayotte also vetoed House Bill 324 on July 15, a piece of legislation that would have provided parents with the ability to call for the removal of explicit curriculum in schools. State House Majority Leader Jason Osborne (R-Auburn) responded to the decision by describing the bill as equally necessary to a new law banning cellphones from K-12 schools, saying, “Now that kids can’t get [explicit material] on their phones while at school, at least they can still find it in the library.”
Featured image credit: Gov. Kelly Ayotte via X