CONCORD – The New Hampshire Senate voted HB 1375, a bill relative to claims for medical monitoring, ought to pass with amendment. The bill passed 14-10 party line vote. Senator Sharon Carson (R-Londonderry) and Senator Harold French (R-Franklin) issued the following statements:

“This bill, while well intentioned, forfeits the responsibility of the legislature to the courts,” said Senator Sharon Carson (R-Londonderry). “The language of this bill is written so broadly the courts will be asked to rule on legislative intent and scope. Granite Staters exposed to toxic substances will be forced to wait for potential responsible polluters to pay for their medical monitoring costs as the courts figure out and interpret this new law. Rather than roll up our sleeves and do the work to make this bill the best possible, we are sending an incomplete bill to the House.”

“Our constituents expect us to get things done right,” said Senator Harold French (R-Franklin). “I am fearful that Granite Staters, with claims for medical monitoring, will find their rightful claims tied up in the courts because of the broad, vague language of this bill. We hoped to offer a floor amendment to limit the bill to PFAS exposure and tighten it up to eliminate some of the vague language, as a starting point, but it was unfortunately rejected.”