What’s Happening with Physician-Assisted Suicide in NH?
House Rejects Assisted Suicide Bill
On March 20, 2025, the New Hampshire House voted 183–182 to table HB 254, the so-called “End-of-Life Freedom Act.” On March 27, 2025, a second vote to revive the bill failed 169–204, effectively killing the bill for this session.
This is an important victory for the many individuals and organizations who voiced concerns about the bill’s far-reaching consequences for suicide prevention, mental health, and the protection of vulnerable populations.
HB 254 would have authorized physician-assisted suicide in New Hampshire, which many healthcare, disability, and mental health advocates strongly opposed. Opponents raised serious concerns about the impact on:
Patients with chronic illness or disabilities
Teens struggling with suicidal ideation
Veterans with PTSD
The healthcare community
This marks the second year in a row that similar legislation has been rejected in New Hampshire. In 2024, HB 1283 passed the House but failed in the Senate.
Organizations including the Brain Injury Association of NH, the National Association for Mental Illness, the Patients Rights Action Fund, State Veterans Advisory Council, and Not Dead Yet played a key role in defeating HB 254. These groups—alongside countless individuals—called and emailed legislators, testified at hearings, and showed up at the State House to share their stories and concerns.
The American Medical Association continues to oppose physician-assisted suicide, stating:
“Permitting physicians to engage in euthanasia would ultimately cause more harm than good… Euthanasia is fundamentally incompatible with the physician’s role as healer, would be difficult or impossible to control, and would pose serious societal risks.”
Instead of legalizing assisted suicide, opponents argue for strengthening New Hampshire’s existing healthcare supports, including:
Expanding palliative care and hospice access
Ensuring insurance covers pain management and end-of-life counseling
Providing mental health and suicide prevention support for patients and families
New Hampshire has made progress on these issues. SB 248 (2025) would establish a commission to study access to palliative and hospice care, building on the state’s bipartisan efforts to support those facing serious illness.
As one advocate said:
“Assisted suicide is not compassionate care. We must do more to support people at their most vulnerable, not give them the means to end their lives.”
We are grateful to every person who helped stop this bill from moving forward—and remain committed to protecting the health and dignity of all Granite Staters.
Get Involved
Want to support efforts to expand palliative care and prevent suicide in NH? Sign up for alerts and updates from the NH Coalition for Suicide Prevention.
SB 248 is a critical step toward ensuring that all Granite Staters receive the compassionate, high-quality care they deserve – when they need it most.
Now is the time to urge legislators to prioritize palliative and hospice care over “solutions” like HB 254, the “End of Life Freedom Act.” Let’s advocate for systems that help people live their life in comfort until the end. Investing in these services is the right thing to do. We strongly urge you to contact your legislators to ask them to vote FOR this bill.
Count Us In: Take the Pledge Toward Zero Suicides
“Policy change plays a vital role in supporting suicide prevention efforts” (20th Annual NH Suicide Prevention Conference 2023).
Join with the New Hampshire disability community and state veteran’s organizations in our commitment to reduce suicide and work toward the ultimate goal of zero suicides.
NH citizens living with disability are at extremely high risk for suicide – four times more likely to attempt suicide than the general population. NH’s veterans living with disability, especial those living with TBI and PTSD, are at an even higher risk for suicide – eight times more than the general population.
Take the Pledge toward zero suicides in New Hampshire:
I AGREE TO THE COUNT US IN PLEDGE:
JOIN THE COUNT US IN PLEDGE:
Count us in…top priority to improve access to community-based supports and services for individuals living with disability at-risk for suicide. Special emphasis on access to long term supports and services for veterans living with TBI and PTSD within the civilian system of care for veterans unable to access adequate VA services.
Count us in… top legislative priority to stand against efforts to open the door to the legislative approval of suicide or its legalization as an acceptable option for ending your life.
To call on lawmakers to oppose legislation that will weaken the states suicide prevention efforts by medicalizing suicide as appropriate health care for vulnerable persons; making the facilitation of suicide an acceptable medical procedure (such as Physician Assisted Suicide or Medical Aid in Dying).
Count us in…to improve access to long-term palliative care and palliative care psychiatry for persons living with disability and for veterans with TBI/PTSD, in all settings, including access to at-home palliative care.
Count us in…to ensure that persons living with disability and veterans living with TBI/PTSD have access to screening to identify those with co-occurring mental illness, substance use and TBI/PTSD in community-based settings.
Count us in…to increase “help seeking” culture and referrals within NH for persons living with disability and veterans with TBI/PTSD.
Count us in….to end ableism and discrimination against individuals living with disability. Especially any new laws that send a message that would devalue the daily lived experience of disabled individuals – such as feelings of burdensomeness, loss of autonomy or control, physical symptoms etc.
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