New Hampshire lawmakers introduce The New Hampshire Death with Dignity Act, HB1659. After a successful hearing in the House Judiciary Committee, the bill is referred to study by a vote of 10 – 8 to “pursue further legislation.”

As in several previous legislative sessions, legislators in the General Court of New Hampshire introduce a bill, HB291, establishing a committee to study end-of-life options. The bill is heard in the House Judiciary Committee, who pass an amended version with a vote of 12 to 8. Shortly afterward, a house vote passes the amended version, 214 to 140, handing the bill off to the senate. Further amendments are added and passed, but the bill stalls after non-concurrence by the house. Legislative proposals to establish a committee to study end-of-life options date back to 2015.

A bill to commission a study of end of life options, SB490, is introduced and does not advance following a Senate Health and Human Services Committee vote of 12 to 10 against the bill.

A death with dignity study bill, SB426, passes both Senate and the House Judiciary Committees, but does not advance beyond committee level.

Governor vetoes bill to study end of life options

The legislature approves and Governor Hassan vetoes HB151, a bill to establish a committee to study aid in dying.

HB1325, a Death with Dignity bill, is introduced but does not advance.

 HB513, a physician assisted dying bill, is voted down in the House, 234 to 99.

HB304, a medical aid-in-dying bill, does not advance.

Three attempts to pass physician-assisted dying legislation in New Hampshire take place in the 1990’s as Oregon voters passed the nation’s first death with dignity law: 1999: SB44-FN, 1998: HB1433-FN, and 1995: HB339.