Maria Braley

House Bill 1416 – Pregnancy Resource Center Freedom of Expression Act Dear Honorable Chair and Members of the Committee, My name is Dr. Maria Braley, and I am a family practice physician practicing in New Hampshire. I care for patients across the lifespan, including adolescents and adults facing complex and often difficult reproductive health decisions. I respectfully submit this testimony in opposition to HB 1416. As physicians, our ethical obligation is to provide patients with accurate, evidence-based medical information so they can make informed decisions about their health. HB 1416 would prohibit the state or municipalities from requiring pregnancy resource centers to provide contraception, abortion referrals, or even factual disclosures about the services they do or do not provide. This creates a system in which patients may reasonably believe they are receiving comprehensive medical counseling, when in reality they may not be receiving complete or medically accurate information. In my clinical practice, I frequently care for patients who present after first seeking help elsewhere, confused about their options or misinformed about the availability, safety, or timing of care. Pregnancy is time-sensitive medical care. Delays caused by incomplete counseling can limit medical options, increase health risks, and worsen emotional distress. Patients deserve transparency and accurate information, not barriers that may delay appropriate care. Importantly, abortion is already legal in New Hampshire only up to 24 weeks of pregnancy, with limited exceptions thereafter. This represents a significant legal boundary on reproductive care. New Hampshire has historically maintained a balanced approach that allows patients and their physicians to make medical decisions within this existing framework. HB 1416 does not improve patient care or safety, it risks undermining informed consent and further complicating access within an already regulated system. This bill also places additional burden on primary care physicians and other medical providers. When patients receive incomplete or misleading counseling elsewhere, physicians must spend additional time correcting misinformation, rebuilding trust, and addressing delays in care. This contributes to fragmented care and worsens health inequities, particularly for young patients, low-income patients, and those in rural communities. As physicians, we support patients regardless of their personal decisions, whether they choose to continue a pregnancy, pursue adoption, or seek abortion care. Our role is not to direct patients toward one outcome, but to ensure they understand all medically appropriate options. Policies that reduce transparency or limit access to accurate information undermine this essential physician-patient relationship. New Hampshire patients already face evolving legislative proposals that could further restrict reproductive care. At a time when abortion access is already limited by gestational law and ongoing legislative debate, we should not pass laws that may indirectly restrict care by limiting access to accurate information or referrals. I respectfully urge the Committee to vote Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL) on HB 1416 in order to protect patient safety, informed consent, and access to comprehensive, evidence-based medical care. Thank you for your time and your commitment to the health of the people of New Hampshire. Respectfully submitted, Maria Boylan, DO Board Certified Family Physician Penultimate Past President of the NH Medical Society Board Member, NH Academy of Family Physicians