SB 520 New Hampshire Senate · 2026 Regular Session

relative to breast surgeries for minors.

SB 520 allows physicians to perform breast surgery on minors for non-medical reasons, expanding existing exceptions. It adds a new provision permitting the procedure "at the election of the minor in consultation with her primary care physician," removing prior restrictions that limited surgery to medical conditions like gynecomastia or congenital deformities. The bill directly affects minors seeking breast reduction or reconstruction surgery who do not qualify under existing medical necessity exceptions. It requires the minor’s consent and physician consultation but does not mandate parental consent. The change modifies New Hampshire law to include this patient-choice option for breast surgeries.
Bill status died 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Nov 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House Passage
May 2026
Governor
Introduced Nov 21, 2025 Last action Aug 20, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced As Amended by the Senate · 2 edits
MINOR
The Senate amended SB 520 to narrow the circumstances under which a minor may elect breast reduction surgery. The original bill allowed a minor to consent to the procedure at her own election with primary care physician consultation, without requiring a specific medical justification. The amendment adds a requirement that the primary reason for the surgery must be related to physical health issues such as musculoskeletal pain, postural changes, or physical discomfort that restricts exercise and activity.
Scope change
The bill's scope was narrowed from allowing any minor to elect breast reduction surgery (with PCP consultation) to limiting it to cases where the primary reason is a physical health condition involving musculoskeletal pain, postural changes, or activity-restricting discomfort.
ELIGIBILITY

Subsection (f) was amended to require that the primary reason for breast reduction surgery on a minor must be musculoskeletal pain, postural changes, or physical discomfort that restricts exercise and activity. Previously, no specific medical justification was required beyond the minor's own election and consultation with her primary care physician.

SCOPE

The bill's analysis was updated to reflect that the procedure is permitted only 'in certain instances' rather than broadly at the minor's election, signaling a narrower scope of applicability.

Floor votes · House May 7, 2026

How they voted

10296
Passed · 24 other
Total votes 222
May 7, 2026
D Democratic108
1 Yea 95 Nay 12
87% Nay
I Independent2
1 Yea 1
50% Yea
R Republican112
100 Yea 1 Nay 11
89% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
13
Key actions
5
Committee
5
May 7, 2026
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (102-96-24)
house
Apr 22, 2026
Lower · Passed
Minority Committee Report: Ought to Pass
lower
Apr 22, 2026
Committee
Majority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 04/15/2026 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 18 P. 14
lower
Mar 27, 2026
Introduced
Introduced (in recess of) 03/26/2026 and referred to Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs HJ 9 P. 54
lower
Mar 23, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee Amendment # 2026-1170s, AA, VV; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
upper
Mar 17, 2026
Upper · Passed
Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1170s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
upper
Mar 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1170s, 03/26/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 11
upper
Nov 21, 2025
Introduced
Introduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Health and Human Services; SJ 1
upper
1 primary · 3 co-sponsors

Sponsors