Hannah Meiselman

Thank you for the opportunity to testify. I respectfully oppose HB 1442-FN. This bill rewrites foundational civil-rights definitions in New Hampshire law and sharply narrows existing protections for transgender and gender-nonconforming residents. By redefining “female” and “male” in statute, restricting the legal meaning of gender identity, and mandating sex-segregated facilities in schools, municipal buildings, and public accommodations, HB 1442-FN creates broad carve-outs within RSA 354-A and RSA 354-B. It also establishes a new criminal trespass category tied to gender identity. These changes introduce significant legal uncertainty for schools, municipalities, and businesses that must comply with overlapping state and federal nondiscrimination requirements, and they risk exposing vulnerable residents to exclusion and unequal treatment. Rather than improving safety or clarity, HB 1442-FN destabilizes long-standing civil-rights protections and invites inconsistent enforcement across the state.