AFT-NH Legislative Bulletin (May 16, 2025)

Book Ban Passes in Senate and Heads to Governor Ayotte

Please Take Action Now

The extremist majority in Concord was at it again this week, undermining students’ ability to get the robust public education they have a right to in our public schools.  This week the Senate passed HB 324, a bill that would make it easier to remove books and classroom materials from public schools by categorizing them as obscene, age-inappropriate or harmful to minors. The terms in the bill are vague and entirely subjective. Similar bills in other states have led to the removal of dictionaries from school libraries, as well as banning classic plays by William Shakespeare as well as the Bible.

This is the first time a book ban has passed both bodies of the legislature. This is a shameful action. New Hampshire is better than book bans and New Hampshire students deserve a robust public education complete with protection of their right to access a wide variety of materials in their school libraries. The bill is unconstitutionally vague, and besides just banning books, it criminalizes teachers and administrators for protecting students’ first amendment rights.

Governor Ayotte now has a choice. She can cave to the far right, extremist anti-education, anti- freedom politicians who voted for this bill or she can side with the majority of Granite Staters who want their educators, local community, and parents to work together to make decisions on what books and materials are best for their schools, not have one parent make the decision of what books are appropriate for other parents’ kids.

Contact Kelly Ayotte and tell her book bans are WRONG for New Hampshire.

This coming week, the House will vote on SB 72, the next in the string of so-called parental rights bills that have been heard over the last few years. The bill contains the same vague, dangerous language for educators and students. Students learn and thrive at school when the educators and parents work together, as a team, focused on the best interest of the student.  However, this bill makes educators subordinate to parents rather than partners and there is no focus on what students need. The bill also puts children at risk by dangerously raising the reporting standard for neglect or abuse to “clear and convincing evidence.” Adults in New Hampshire are all mandatory reporters, including educators, and making reporting of suspicion of harm to a child not reportable, unless there is clear and convincing evidence, is wrong and puts children in danger.

Contact your State Representative and tell them to vote NO on SB 72.

Submitting Your Position and Testimony

Here is easy access to submit your position on bills before House and Senate Committees.

Remember, if a bill is already scheduled for an Executive Session, you will not be able to submit your position.

To submit your position, click SUBMIT YOUR POSITION TO A HOUSE COMMITTEE HERE.

To submit your position, click SUBMIT YOUR POSITION TO A SENATE COMMITTEE HERE.

• Fill in your Personal Information
• Select the relevant date and committee for the hearing by clicking on it in the Meeting Schedule Calendar (make sure you are on the right week). [Select Bill # and select the date].
• In the dropbox below "Select the Committee," select committee.
• In the dropbox below "Choose the Bill," select the appropriate time and bill number.
• Select the appropriate option for the "I am" dropbox (likely "Member of the Public").
• Fill in the content box under "I'm Representing" with the business, organization, or group you are representing. If you are representing yourself only, write "myself."
• Under the “Indicate Your Position on this Bill,” check the circle stating your position on the bill. “I Oppose this Bill” or “I Support this Bill”
• After filling in all of the appropriate dropboxes, click “Submit.”
• After clicking submit, you will be brought to the next page, where you will fill in the content boxes with your first and last name, as well as your town, state, and email address.
• Press “Continue.”
• If you wish to speak during the hearing to present your testimony, you will need to attend in person at the State House, but you upload your testimony if you cannot attend.
• If you wish to submit testimony on the bill, email the relevant committee and upload the testimony file from your computer (if you need assistance in this, we are happy to help).

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Upcoming Legislative Hearings

Week of May 19, 2025