HB 5309, An Act Concerning The Provision Of Notice To A Parent Or Guardian Of A Minor Child Who Seeks To Receive Pregnancy-Related Health Care Services

TESTIMONY OF THE CONNECTICUT HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION
SUBMITTED TO THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Monday, March 2, 2026

The Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) appreciates this opportunity to submit testimony concerning HB 5309, An Act Concerning The Provision Of Notice To A Parent Or Guardian Of A Minor Child Who Seeks To Receive Pregnancy-Related Health Care Services.  CHA opposes the bill.

Connecticut hospitals make our state stronger by delivering nationally recognized, world-class care, supporting jobs and economic growth, and serving communities across Connecticut.  Every day, hospitals improve access, affordability, and health equity — providing care to all patients regardless of ability to pay.  At the same time, hospitals invest in their workforce and local communities, even as they navigate significant financial and federal challenges.

HB 5309 seeks to create multiple notifications relating to reproductive healthcare services.  The notifications would immediately and substantially undermine both long-standing abortion rights laws in Connecticut as well as last year’s important legislation Public Act 25-28, An Act Concerning Access To Reproductive Health Care.  Public Act 25-28 clarified the scope of the safe space and confidential environment that allows minors to make pregnancy care and pregnancy-related choices for themselves.  CHA does not support dismantling those important rights as contemplated in HB 5309.

CHA recognizes that some of the proposals contained within HB 5309 reflect existing processes used in other states.  It is critical to note that those other states have elaborate judicial and administrative structures in place to facilitate their various notification and oversight provisions.  Those frameworks would take Connecticut years to create and implement.  Unless and until Connecticut provides the resources, expertise, and direction to establish that level of judicial and administrative infrastructure, in a manner that protects patients’ rights to make their own choices, the provisions in HB 5309 would be entirely unworkable.

For those reasons CHA opposes the bill.

Thank you for your consideration of our position.  For additional information, contact CHA Government Relations at (203) 294-7301.