HB 1217 New Hampshire House · 2026 Regular Session

permitting classification of individuals based on biological sex under certain limited circumstances.

HB 1217 permits public and private entities to separate individuals by biological sex in two specific situations: multi-user bathrooms/locker rooms and athletic competitions where biological males typically have physical advantages (like strength or speed). It defines "biological sex" as male or female and states that such separation does not count as discrimination under New Hampshire law. The bill makes this classification optional - entities are not required to implement it. This change modifies New Hampshire's anti-discrimination law to explicitly allow these limited sex-based classifications.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2025
Committee Review
May 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Dec 1, 2025 Last action May 7, 2026
Floor votes · House Mar 5, 2026

How they voted

9399
Passed · 30 other
Total votes 222
Mar 5, 2026
D Democratic107
98 Nay 9
91% Nay
I Independent2
1 Yea 1
50% Yea
R Republican113
92 Yea 1 Nay 20
81% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
15
Key actions
5
Committee
4
May 7, 2026
Upper · Passed
Pending Motion Ought to Pass; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
upper
Apr 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 05/07/2026, Vote 3-2; SC 17
upper
Mar 6, 2026
Introduced
Introduced 03/05/2026 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 6
upper
Mar 5, 2026
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (93-99-30)
house
Mar 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
Ought to Pass: MA RC 187-163 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 92
lower
Feb 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee Report: Refer for Interim Study 02/20/2026 (Vote 17-0; CC) HC 9 P. 18
lower
Dec 1, 2025
Introduced
Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Judiciary HJ 1 P. 11
lower
1 primary · 8 co-sponsors

Sponsors