Governor Chris Sununu says he's watching the progress of a proposal to extend more anti-discrimination protections to people who are transgender to see if it makes it out of the legislature.
20 states ban discrimination against people who are transgender, including MA, VT and Maine. The bill before the house aims to ensure gender identity bias isn't permitted when it comes to employment, housing or public accommodation.
A house committee voted 15-2 last month in support of the bill, but House Speaker Shawn Jasper opposes it.
Governor Sununu may not have a firm position on the proposal but he says he does takes issues of discrimination very seriously.
"I mean that's one of the things that always has to be a priority both in the public and private sector. But that being said there are a lot of facets of this bill, a lot of different pieces to it, some that have a lot of support, some that are being challenged in the legislature. We are just kind of monitoring it and seeing where it comes out."
Speaker Jasper, who has cited concerns about women in his family sharing bathrooms with people who have not fully transitioned, is urging lawmakers to table the bill without debate.
The bill has been endorsed by New Hampshire police chiefs association, the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, and the Business and Industry Association.
