A new bill in the state legislature could cut off donations from casinos to any non-profit organization that provides abortion services.
Republican State Rep. John Sellers introduced House Bill 1338, which would prevent any health center that offers abortion as one of its services from being considered a charitable organization eligible to receive a portion of casino revenue.
He said that organizations offering abortion care should not receive public-facing support as part of the state’s charitable gaming laws.
“I’m saying providing abortion is not charitable,” Sellers said during a House committee hearing on Monday.“That’s killing a life.”
Abortion is currently legal in New Hampshire up to 24 weeks of pregnancy.
Under the current charitable gaming system, it’s not the government that chooses which charities receive gaming donations—it’s the casinos themselves.
For Jinelle Hobson, executive director of Equality Health Center in Concord, last year marked the first time her organization partnered with a casino. The partnership happened in October during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Hobson said the money helped cover operating costs, but said that her center does much more than provide abortion care.
Equality Health Center also offers breast and cervical cancer screenings, infection testing, hormone replacement therapy and other health services.
“This bill creates a politically targeted exclusion, rather than a neutral policy change, and it sets a concerning precedent for charitable gaming in the state,” Hobson said. “Our organization is being treated differently, not because of how we operate, but because of the lawful scope of services we provide.”
The Equality Health Center received over $17,000 from casino donations last year.
Supporters of the legislation acknowledge it’s controversial, but say the bill is not about whether certain organizations should exist or not. It’s about their funding.
The bill was backed by New Hampshire Right to Life, an anti-abortion group.
To qualify for charitable gaming in the state, organizations must meet licensing, reporting, and oversight rules set by the New Hampshire Lottery Commission. Those rules don’t depend on what services are provided.
When an organization is scheduled to partner with a casino, its name is advertised inside the casino so players know which group will benefit on certain days.
Hobson said that visibility matters just as much as the money. It gives health centers like hers a chance to reach people who might not otherwise hear about cancer screenings or preventive care.
But Sellers said an organization should only be considered charitable if it is “good” for society.
State Rep. Susan Elberger pushed back during the hearing.
“Assuming that the New Hampshire State Police bagpipe band is a recipient of funds, how is that providing services to the poor?” Elberger asked.
Much of the debate centered on whether lawmakers — not casinos or regulators — should decide which organizations are “charitable.”
Another group that could lose funding if the bill passes is Lovering Health Center in Greenland, which also provides reproductive and sexual health services.
“We know that charitable gaming has been free from these types of political attacks for a long time,” said Sandi Denoncour, executive director of Lovering Health Center. “We would encourage the community to keep it that way.”