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HB 10 · 2025 · House · Children and Family Law Committee

Parental bill of rights

AI-generated

(New Title) establishing a parental bill of rights.

Establishes a parental bill of rights regarding a child's education, health, and upbringing, limits school infringement on those rights to narrowly tailored compelling-interest cases, and creates a private right of action to enforce them.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · June 11, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill establishes a parents' bill of rights regarding their child's education, prohibits a school from infringing on such rights unless the action is narrowly tailored to address a compelling state interest, requires school boards to develop a policy to promote parental involvement and to provide notice of parental rights, and provides a private right of action for enforcement.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as enacted. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“"Parent" means a person who has legal custody of a minor child as a natural or adoptive parent or a legal guardian, but such term shall not include a parent as to whom the parent-child relationship has been terminated by judicial decree or voluntary relinquishment.”
RSA 189-B:2
“No school may infringe on the fundamental rights of a parent to direct the upbringing, education, health care, and mental health of his or her minor child without demonstrating that such action is necessary to achieve a compelling state interest, that such action is narrowly tailored, and that such interest is not otherwise served by less restrictive means.”
RSA 189-B:3
“To inquire of the school or school personnel and promptly receive accurate, truthful, and complete disclosure regarding any and all matters related to their minor child, unless an immediate answer cannot be provided when the initial request is made, in which case, the answer shall be provided no later than 10 business days after the request.”
RSA 189-B:4
“Each school shall, in consultation with parents and school personnel, develop, adopt, and promulgate publicly a policy to promote parental involvement in the school.”
RSA 189-B:5

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Sherman PackardRPrimeSpeaker of the House
  • Rep. Debra DeSimoneRChair· Children and Family Law
  • Rep. Lisa PostRClerk· Commerce and Consumer Affairs
  • Rep. Jason OsborneRMajority Leader

Also: Rep. Fred DoucetteR, Rep. Jim KofaltR, Rep. Paul TerryR, Rep. Glenn CordelliR, Rep. Sheila SeidelR

Public testimony

1,384 signed in online · 346 wrote testimony

13% support87% oppose0% neutral

ForParents have a fundamental right to direct their children's upbringing

AgainstBill is redundant; parents already have these rights

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“We strongly support the letter and spirit of this proposed Bill.”
— Peter and Robin Brigham, Goshen · Ourselvessupports
“I think it's important for parents to know what their children are being prescribed/treated for so they can support them. Also knowing what is going on in schools/being taught is important as well.…”
— Jana Pirie, Bedfordsupports
“Who ever thought NH would have to pass a bill for parental rights.…”
— Mark Hollands, Amherstsupports
“As a parent of a young child, I do not support this bill. While I try to be the best parent I can, I understand that not every child has the privilege of having good parents.…”
— Alexander Gingerich, Salemopposes
“While I do think parents should have rights, I am concerned by the language in this bill, particularly the following section: I. Each school board, school district, or school administrative unit shall, in consultation with parents, teachers, and administrators, develop, adopt and promulgate publicly a policy to promote parental involvement in the public school system.…”
— Amy Gentile, Hollisopposes
“I think this is an overreach. It's not the school's problem if your child doesn't trust you enough to share this information, and to me it brings up concerns about destroying the trust between students and school staff.…”
— Heather Fritchy, DERRYopposes
“There's a definition in the bill for "compelling state interest" but this definition is not used anywhere else in the proposed RSA. I cannot support this bill without the proposed RSA being explicit about where a compelling state interest applies.…”
— Catherine Tidd, Amherstneutral

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 18, 2025Public hearingHouse Children and Family Law4:11:13–4:20:229m 9slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 4, 2025Public hearingHouse Children and Family Law3:21:23–3:26:335m 10slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0695h — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 20, 2025Floor debateHouse floor1:12:32–1:27:2314m 51slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0695h — adopted, roll call 212-161; Amendment # 2025-0695h — adopted, division 210-162; FLAM # 2025-1152h (Rep. Raymond) — failed, division 163-209
  • Apr 1, 2025Public hearingSenate Educationfrom 3:20:48located in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Jun 5, 2025Floor debateSenate floor26:14–26:3925slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2150s; Ought to Pass with Amendments #2025-2150s and #2025-2646s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2025-2150s — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 5, 2025Floor debateHouse floor3:47:12–3:49:582m 46slocated in the stream transcriptHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-2150s (Rep. DeSimone) — adopted, roll call 210-160; Reconsider Concur (Rep. Osborne) — failed, voice vote; Enrolled (in recess)

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 8, 2025HouseIntroduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Children and Family Law HJ 2 P. 3
  2. Feb 18, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/18/2025 01:00 pm LOB 206-208
  3. Mar 4, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/04/2025 11:00 am LOB 206-208
  4. Mar 4, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0695h 03/04/2025 (Vote 9-7; RC)
  5. Mar 10, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Mar 20, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0695h: AA DV 210-162 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 20
  7. Mar 20, 2025HouseFLAM # 2025-1152h (Rep. Raymond): AF DV 163-209 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 23
  8. Mar 20, 2025HouseLay HB 10 on Table (Rep. Petrigno): MF RC 162-211 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 26
  9. Mar 20, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0695h: MA RC 212-161 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 28
  10. Mar 20, 2025SenIntroduced 03/20/2025 and Referred to Education; SJ 9
  11. Apr 1, 2025SenHearing: 04/01/2025, Room 101, LOB, 09:15 am; SC 15
  12. Jun 5, 2025SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2150s, 06/05/2025, Vote 3-2; SC 24
  13. Jun 5, 2025SenSpecial Order to beginning of regular calendar, Without Objection, MA; 06/05/2025; SJ 15
  14. Jun 5, 2025SenCommittee Amendment # 2025-2150s, AA, VV; 06/05/2025; SJ 15
  15. Jun 5, 2025SenSen. Birdsell Floor Amendment # 2025-2646s, AA, VV; 06/05/2025; SJ 15
  16. Jun 5, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendments #2025-2150s and #2025-2646s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 06/05/2025; SJ 15
  17. Jun 5, 2025SenWithout Objection, the Clerk is authorized to make technical and administrative corrections which are necessary to reflect the intent of the Senate, MA; 06/05/2025; SJ 15
  18. Jun 5, 2025HouseHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-2150s (Rep. DeSimone): MA RC 210-160 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 71
  19. Jun 5, 2025HouseReconsider Concur (Rep. Osborne): MF VV 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 73
  20. Jun 5, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 167
  21. Jun 5, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/05/2025); SJ 16
  22. Jun 10, 2025HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 06/10/2025; Chapter 74; eff. 07/01/2025

Coverage

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.