Three members of a left-wing activist group who conducted a virtual “die-in” on the floor of a legislative meeting room were arrested Tuesday. One of them is chair of the Concord Democratic City Committee.
While the protest had little impact on business at the state house — one Senate staffer literally stepped over the protester to carry on his work as normal — some political observers pointed out that it occurred just days after the assassination of a Minnesota state rep and at a time of (allegedly) heightened state house security.
At approximately 4:10 p.m., just as members announced plans to adjourn for the day, three individuals dressed in black began positioning themselves near the members of the Committee of Conference debating the state budget resolutions.
Protesters at N.H. state house committee hearing, June 17, 2025.
Lisa Beaudoin, chairwoman of Concord City Democrats, could be seen on the video stream placing a note on a lawmaker’s desk before flopping to the floor alongside two others, later identified as Jules Good of Newmarket and Sarah Chapman of Nottingham.
Senate President Sharon Carson (R-Londonderry) could be heard over her microphone asking what the three were doing before the trio proceeded to recite statements submitted by Medicaid recipients.
Several lawmakers could be heard chuckling before the phrase “Meeting adjourned!” rang out and the livestream closed.
Just after 5:30 p.m., the New Hampshire State Police released a statement confirming that the three were taken “into custody at the Legislative Office Building in Concord for refusing to leave the building after it closed.”
Lisa Beaudoin
The protesters were acting as members of the “Hands off Medicaid” activist group. On Monday, Beaudoin posted a flier on her Facebook page to promote a “no cuts to Medicaid” event.
“Join us for an afternoon of delivering post cards, holding signs, sharing Medicaid stories, and contacting Governor (Kelly) Ayotte to tell her to veto the budget if it contains any cuts to Medicaid,” the event’s listing stated.
Good posted a Facebook update on Tuesday night.
“Since word is getting out and people are checking in, I just want to say that everyone arrested was released and that we’re all safe!” Good wrote. “I’ll have something more eloquent to say tomorrow, but for now, know this: I would go to jail 1000 times if it meant no one else would die from a lack of health care access.
“No cuts to Medicaid. No job loss penalties. No monthly premiums. We will not rest until this is the reality in New Hampshire.”
Over the weekend, contact info for all 424 lawmakers was scrubbed from the legislature’s website following the Minnesota shooting deaths.
“After the tragedy that happened in Minnesota this past weekend, we are taking the necessary precautions to keep New Hampshire lawmakers safe,” Carson and House Speaker Sherm Packard announced in a joint statement on Monday. “Our security team has been in contact with state and local law enforcement to ensure the safety of our legislators.
“Right now, security is our top priority as our elected officials are finishing up their session work and we will continue to work on keeping the General Court safe for everyone.”
Terry Pfaff, chief operating officer of the New Hampshire General Court, issued a memo over the weekend advising legislators to “stay continuously vigilant while going about your daily routines. Your situational awareness is your best tool for your personal safety.”
