The New Hampshire House has once again passed HB 148, a bill that would strip transgender individuals of protections in public spaces by allowing businesses, organizations, and government entities to deny them access to restrooms, locker rooms, sports teams, and even detention facilities based on biological sex.
The bill passed 201-166 in the House on March 20, 2025, largely along party lines. If it becomes law, it would roll back non-discrimination protections that have been in place since 2018, marking a major setback for transgender rights in the Granite State.
While supporters claim the bill is about “privacy and safety,” transgender advocates and allies warn that it could lead to state-sanctioned discrimination, forced misgendering, and increased harm to an already vulnerable population.
What HB 148 Would Do
HB 148 allows businesses, organizations, and government entities to classify individuals based on biological sex in the following ways:
- Restrooms and Locker Rooms: Public and private facilities could legally ban transgender individuals from using bathrooms and locker rooms that align with their gender identity, allowing owners to turn away trans patrons without facing discrimination charges.
- Sports Teams: The bill would enable schools and organizations to bar transgender athletes from competing on teams that align with their gender identity.
- Prisons, Juvenile Detention Centers, and Mental Health Facilities: Transgender individuals could be forcibly placed in facilities corresponding to their sex assigned at birth, rather than where they feel safe or receive appropriate care.
While HB 148 is not an outright ban on transgender people in these spaces, it gives facility owners and administrators the power to exclude them—essentially legalizing discrimination under the guise of protecting “biological women.”
History Repeats: A Second Attempt at Discrimination
This is not the first time the New Hampshire legislature has attempted to pass such a bill. In 2024, an identical bill (HB 396) was approved by both chambers but was vetoed by then-Governor Chris Sununu, who argued that the bill went against New Hampshire’s values.
In his veto statement, Sununu said:
“HB 396 runs contrary to New Hampshire’s Live Free or Die spirit. It seeks to solve problems that have not presented themselves.”
Despite this, Republican lawmakers reintroduced the bill in 2025 under a new administration, now with the potential for Governor Kelly Ayotte to sign it into law.
If passed by the Republican-controlled Senate, HB 148 will land on Ayotte’s desk, where it is widely expected that she will sign it into law, rolling back years of progress for transgender rights in New Hampshire.
Debate on the House Floor: Trans Rights Under Fire
The debate over HB 148 was heated, with Republicans defending the bill as a way to protect women and prevent “fraudulent” transgender identities, despite no evidence supporting such claims.
Rep. Jonah Wheeler (D-Peterborough) sided with Republicans, arguing:
“If there are women who feel unsafe, then we should listen to those women.”
However, Democrats and LGBTQ+ advocates pushed back, calling out the bill’s vague language and its real-world consequences.
Rep. Eric Turer (D-Brentwood) warned that the bill is so poorly written that anyone could be questioned about their gender when using public restrooms:
“You likely believe this bill is about transgender people—it almost certainly is—but you won’t find any language about that in the bill either.”
Rep. Alice Wade (D-Dover), a transgender woman, shared an emotional plea, recalling a conversation with a Republican lawmaker whose transgender son died by suicide:
“Do not make New Hampshire a state where people like me, people like his son, and some of the people up in the gallery here today are told we don’t belong. Voting to bring back discrimination in the Granite State will not stop harassment—it will only make it worse.”
What’s Next?
Now that HB 148 has passed in the House, it will head to the New Hampshire Senate, where a similar bill passed last year. Given the Republican majority in the Senate and Governor Ayotte’s history of opposing transgender rights, this bill has a real chance of becoming law.
If signed into law, New Hampshire would join Florida, Ohio, and Wyoming in restricting transgender people from using public spaces that align with their gender identity.
Transgender advocates and allies are mobilizing to oppose HB 148, urging state senators to vote against it and calling on Governor Ayotte to veto the bill if it reaches her desk.
The Bottom Line
If this bill becomes law, transgender people in New Hampshire could face increased harassment, legal discrimination, and forced placement in unsafe environments.
This is not just about bathrooms—it’s about the right to exist safely in public spaces.
For transgender people, their families, and allies, the time to act is now. Contact your state senators, support local advocacy groups, and make your voices heard.
New Hampshire’s motto is Live Free or Die—but if HB 148 becomes law, freedom will be denied to many.
