The House Judiciary Committee voted against recommending a bill that would further restrict abortions in the state from 24 weeks to 20 weeks.

The House Judiciary Committee considered bills on restricting bathroom use based on sex assigned at birth, and a bill to eliminate gender identity protections from state law.

“New Hampshire has the lowest vaccination rate for measles in New England,” Rep. Jessica LaMontagne, a Dover Democrat, said in a floor speech before the vote. “Do you want to be the legislature that ushers in the next outbreak of measles?”

Melissa Carter drives around southern New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts, bringing healthcare to children when needed, often on weekends and into the night when pediatric clinics in her area are typically closed.

New Hampshire is the only state in New England without shield laws that protect abortion providers from out-of-state legal action.

One bill seeks to eliminate nearly all vaccine requirements. But others are more limited in scope and don’t target the requirements as much as specific aspects of the state’s broader vaccine policy.

The Trump administration slashed then restored roughly $2 billion dollars in grants to mental health and addiction programs – all within the span of about 24 hours. Susan Stearns with the National Alliance on Mental Health Illness in New Hampshire spoke about the organization’s experience and what’s next for mental health funding in the state.

Hospitals across New Hampshire are seeing higher patient numbers, as the state health department and CDC report high rates of illness.

The House voted Thursday to renew enhanced health care subsidies that expired last year, while in the Senate lawmakers advanced a bill over authorizing military force in Venezuela.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reduced the number of vaccines it recommends for all children. The state health department said this week that it would continue to follow guidance from national medical organizations.