(Michael Graham) – Weeks after her controversial veto of a bill restricting biological males from women’s spaces, Gov. Kelly Ayotte on Friday signed legislation banning sex-change procedures for minor children — a move signaling the Republican governor is largely in step with her party, and with voters, on the issue.
“Medical decisions made at a young age can carry lifelong consequences, and these bills represent a balanced, bipartisan effort to protect children,” Ayotte said.
Former Gov. Chris Sununu had previously signed legislation banning a procedure commonly known as “bottom surgery” for minors, prohibiting the permanent disfiguring of a child’s genitals in pursuit of gender identity change. Ayotte has now signed laws banning cosmetic breast surgery for minors — also known as “top surgery” (HB 712)— as well as chemical treatments and puberty blockers for minors seeking to change their gender identity (HB 377).
New Hampshire was already among 27 states with some restrictions on sex-change treatments — referred to by LGBTQ activists as “gender-affirming care” — for children. With these new laws, the Granite State joins 19 states that prohibit all sex-change procedures for minors.
“I applaud Governor Ayotte for signing HB377 and HB712, which protect minors in New Hampshire from harmful cross-sex hormones and irreversible surgeries,” said Rep. Lisa Mazur (R-Goffstown), primary sponsor of both bills. “These commonsense safeguards, strongly supported by Granite State voters, ensure children aren’t subjected to life-altering medical interventions they can’t fully understand or consent to.”
“New Hampshire is now the first state in New England and the Northeast to take this important step to protect vulnerable youth. I’m proud to stand with families across our state in putting children’s safety and well-being first. Thank you to my colleagues and Governor Ayotte for their leadership.”
Democrat opposition was nearly universal. Only one Democrat in the New Hampshire Legislature, progressive Rep. Jonah Wheeler (D-Peterborough), voted for both bills. Rep. Dale Girard (D-Claremont) also voted for HB 377.
Granite State voters, however, overwhelmingly support the legislation. A July 2025 NHJournal/Praecones Analytica poll found that New Hampshire voters back the ban by a margin of 69 to 16 percent.
Ayotte and the GOP majority also have the U.S. Supreme Court on their side. In June, the court ruled 6-3 in favor of Tennessee’s right to ban sex-change treatments for minors.
Democrats suffered significant defeats in the November 2024 elections, and many political observers say one reason was the party’s perceived extremism on gender issues. Vice President Kamala Harris, for example, supported taxpayer-funded sex-change operations for illegal immigrants in prison — a position critics say contributed to her loss in all seven swing states. In New Hampshire, Democrats went from a nearly even split in the House of Representatives to a 222–178 GOP majority following two years of advocacy for biological males in girls’ sports and opposition to restrictions on sex-change procedures for minors.
Despite the political consequences, Granite State Democrats appear determined to stay the course.
Republicans, on the other hand, were quick to praise Ayotte’s decision.
“I’m celebrating today the signing of the ban on puberty blockers for minors. Governor Ayotte is leading from the front on issues Granite Staters care about, and she stood up to the woke mob and the extremists,” said state Sen. Dan Innis. “She stood with common sense, biology, and parental rights — and I was proud to vote for this important legislation to protect children from irreversible decisions.”
Sen. Kevin Avard, an outspoken advocate for the legislation, added:
“This is just plain common sense. Kids shouldn’t be given life-altering puberty-blocking drugs or irreversible sex-change surgeries that alter their bodies forever before they’re even old enough to understand the consequences. I was proud to co-sponsor these bills, and I am thrilled that Governor Ayotte signed them into law. We’ve finally drawn the line and said, ‘Not in New Hampshire.’”
Michael Graham is Managing Editor of InsideSources.com, where this article was originally published on 8/1/26. The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views.
