The New Hampshire House of Representatives will vote on its proposed budget on Thursday, April 10. This is one step in the process before the budget goes to the Senate. We’re looking at the House Finance Committee’s recommended budget with a gender lens to make sure New Hampshire preserves the services and infrastructure women and girls need to thrive.
Here’s what we see in the House budget:
- Elimination of the NH Family Planning Program
- The NH Family Planning Program provides essential sexual and reproductive health care services and information to lower-income Granite Staters including birth control, cancer screenings, STD testing and treatment, and pregnancy testing and counseling.
- Reductions in Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services
- Women and girls suffer from depression and anxiety at higher rates than men and boys and women and girls are more likely to seek care for mental health. Cuts would impact community mental health centers and efforts to eliminate emergency department psychiatric boarding.
- Elimination of the Human Rights Commission
- The Human Rights Commission enforces discrimination laws in employment, housing, places of public accommodation and K-12 public schools, including gender discrimination, pregnancy discrimination, and sex-based harassment.
- Elimination of the Office of the Child Advocate
- The Office of the Child Advocate promotes the best interests of all New Hampshire children and strengthens public confidence and accountability in the State’s systems that support children and families. The Office of the Child Advocate has been responsible for high-profile discoveries of harmful out-of-state placements for NH children.
- Elimination of the State Commission on Aging
- The Commission on Aging advises on policy and planning related to aging. New Hampshire’s population is rapidly aging and older women have lower median earnings than older men and are more likely to be the primary caretaker for grandchildren than older men.
- 3% cut to Medicaid reimbursement rates
- NH women are more likely to be enrolled in Medicaid than men and cuts to reimbursement rates may reduce the number of providers serving this population at a time when it is already hard to find care.
- Cutting the NH Paid Family Medical Leave marketing budget
- Many still do not know about the NH PFML program, especially the individual market. Advertising is crucial to help people navigate this benefit product.
- Prohibition of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in public schools
- This impacts the opportunity to learn about women’s history, black history, and much more.
- Good news:
- Child Care Scholarships Remain Intact
- Support for maternal health will continue in the Senate with Momnibus 2.0
We encourage the House and Senate to make smart, long-term investments in health, safety, prosperity, and opportunity for Granite State women and girls.
To learn more about other NHWF legislative priorities, click here.
