HB 324 · 2025 · House · Education Policy and Administration Committee

Banning obscene material in schools

relative to prohibiting obscene or harmful sexual materials in schools.

Prohibits schools from providing material deemed obscene or harmful to minors, defines relevant terms, and creates a parent complaint and removal process along with a cause of action for violations.AI-generated

Status

Vetoed; the override vote failed, so the veto stands · December 17, 2025

✓Introduced
✓House
✓Senate
✕Governor
Law

Governor's veto message

“I do not believe the State of New Hampshire needs to, nor should it, engage in the role of addressing questions of literary value and appropriateness. This bill envisions the possibility of extensive civil action over materials in our schools, which could open the door to unnecessary litigation from out-of-state groups. If the Legislature determines that RSA 186:11:IX-c is not being implemented or enforced adequately, the more suitable and narrow way to address these concerns would be to modify that statute. For the reasons stated above, I have vetoed House Bill 324.”

— Gov. Kelly Ayotte · Jul 15, 2025 · excerpt

Governor's press release House Journal 19, p. 15

The House voted 183–167 on the override (Dec 17, 2025) — short of the two-thirds required, so the veto was sustained. See the roll call.

Analysis

This bill prohibits material that is obscene or harmful to minors in schools and creates a procedure for removal and cause of action.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as passed by both chambers. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

““Educator” shall mean a professional employee of any school district whose position requires certification by the state board pursuant to RSA 189:39.”

RSA 189:79

“No later than November 1, 2026, each local school board shall adopt a complaint resolution policy consistent with this section to be used to address complaints submitted by parents or guardians alleging that material that is harmful to minors has been provided or is currently available to a student enrolled in the local school system who is the child of such parent or guardian.”

RSA 189:80

“Any petitioner, if successful, shall be awarded special or general damages of not less than $1,000 for each violation, and costs and reasonable legal fees.”

RSA 189:81

““Higher education” shall mean any institution in the university system of New Hampshire or community college system of New Hampshire.”

RSA 189:79

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Public testimony

1,402 signed in online · 432 wrote testimony

3% support97% oppose0% neutral

ForSexually explicit material has no place in schools

AgainstBill is unnecessary given existing opt-out and review policies

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Please vote YES and support this important Bill protecting innocent New Hampshire minors. Thank you.”

— Pam Brown, Kingstonsupports

“I wholeheartedly support HB-324 prohibiting obscene offensive inappropriate materials in our school system available to our children. Thank you, Representative Brian Nadeau Raymond NH.”

— Brian Nadeau, Raymondsupports

“I support HB324 relative to eliminating age inappropriate or obscene material from K-12 schools and the children’s section of public libraries. Early exposure to sexually explicit material is leading to an increase in unplanned pregnancy and abortions.…”

— Mary Murphy, Francestownsupports

“This bill is a slippery slope to censorship. These definitions are up to interpretation and do not take into account Art history or biology courses.…”

— Stephanie Moore, HUDSONopposes

“There are already laws in existence to protect minors from harmful materials. This bill is a backdoor for censorship.”

— Amy Gentile, Hollisopposes

“This could severely affect sex education in schools which is already lacking in our country.”

— Shannon Walden, Manchesteropposes

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

Mar 10, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass9–8
Overall
53% yea
Mar 26, 2025HouseDivisionFloor amendment 2025-1361h (Rep. Gregg)Failed151–185
Overall
45% yea
Mar 26, 2025HouseDivisionFloor amendment 2025-1377h (Rep. N. Germana)Failed153–186
Overall
45% yea
Mar 26, 2025HouseRoll callOught to PassAdopted183–148How they voted
Overall
55% yea
Party-line vote
Republicans
182–299% yea
Democrats
1–1461% yea
May 15, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass3–1
Overall
75% yea
May 15, 2025SenateRoll callSen. Perkins Kwoka Floor Amendment # 2025-2190sFailed8–15How they voted
Overall
35% yea
Party-line vote
Republicans
0–150% yea
Democrats
8–0100% yea
May 15, 2025SenateRoll callOught to PassAdopted15–8How they voted
Overall
65% yea
Party-line vote
Republicans
15–0100% yea
Democrats
0–80% yea
Jun 26, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2728eadopted
Jun 26, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted
Dec 17, 2025HouseRoll callOverride the veto — shall the bill become law notwithstanding the objectionsFailed183–167How they voted
Overall
52% yea
Party-line vote
Republicans
183–597% yea
Democrats
0–1620% yea

Hearings and debates

Mar 5, 2025Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration6:04:35–6:06:061m 31slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
Mar 10, 2025Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration3:54:15–3:55:231m 8slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass — roll call; Executive Session
Mar 26, 2025Floor debateHouse floor7:36:32–8:01:1624m 44slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass — adopted, roll call 183-148; FLAM # 2025-1361h (Rep. Gregg) — failed, division 151-185; FLAM # 2025-1377h (Rep. N. Germana) — failed, division 153-186
Apr 10, 2025Public hearingSenate Education1:19:27–1:38:4619m 19slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
May 15, 2025Floor debateSenate floor4:01:36–4:17:2515m 49slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, roll call 15-8; Sen. Perkins Kwoka Floor Amendment # 2025-2190s — failed, roll call 8-15
Jun 26, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2728e Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled Adopted — voice vote
Jun 26, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2728e — adopted, voice vote; Enrolled (in recess)
Dec 17, 2025Floor debateHouse floor1:21:16–1:22:261m 10slocated in the stream transcriptVeto Sustained — roll call 183-167

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

Legislative history

Jan 8, 2025HouseIntroduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Education Policy and Administration HJ 2 P. 15
Mar 5, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 03/05/2025 02:45 pm LOB 205-207
Mar 10, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/10/2025 01:00 pm LOB 205-207
Mar 10, 2025HouseMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass 03/10/2025 (Vote 9-8; RC) HC 17 P. 50
Mar 14, 2025HouseMinority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
Mar 26, 2025HouseFLAM # 2025-1361h (Rep. Gregg): AF DV 151-185 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 120
Mar 26, 2025HouseFLAM # 2025-1377h (Rep. N. Germana): AF DV 153-186 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 120
Mar 26, 2025HouseOught to Pass: MA RC 183-148 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 120
Mar 27, 2025SenIntroduced 03/27/2025 and Referred to Education; SJ 10
Apr 10, 2025SenHearing: 04/10/2025, Room 101, LOB, 09:30 am; SC 16
May 15, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass, 05/15/2025; Vote 3-1; CC; SC 21
May 15, 2025SenHB 324 was Removed from the Consent Calendar; 05/15/2025; SJ 13
May 15, 2025SenSen. Perkins Kwoka Floor Amendment # 2025-2190s, RC 8Y-15N, AF; 05/15/2025; SJ 13
May 15, 2025SenOught to Pass: RC 15Y-8N, MA; OT3rdg; 05/15/2025; SJ 13
Jun 26, 2025SenEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2728e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/26/2025); SJ 18
Jun 26, 2025HouseEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2728e: AA VV (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 56
Jun 26, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/26/2025); SJ 18
Jun 26, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 59
Jul 15, 2025HouseVetoed by Governor Ayotte 07/15/2025 HJ 19 P. 15
Dec 17, 2025HouseVeto Sustained 12/17/2025: RC 183-167 Lacking Necessary Two-Thirds Vote HJ 19

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Background reading

Evergreen reading on the policy area — spanning perspectives — not coverage of this specific bill.

Challenges, Policies, and Reconsideration in School LibrariesExplainer
Wyoming State Library — Outlines how a formal reconsideration policy and review committee handle a request to remove or restrict school library material.AI-generated
'Parents' Bill of Rights' Underscores Furor Over Curriculum and Transparency in SchoolsExplainer
Education Week — Reviews the national push for curriculum-transparency and parental-review laws and the debates surrounding them.AI-generated
Republicans Stand for Transparency and Accountability in CurriculaSupporters
NH House Republican Caucus — New Hampshire legislative sponsors argue that material-review procedures give parents a formal say over classroom and library content.AI-generated
Fight CensorshipCritics
American Library Association — The library association's free-expression case against removing books and materials from school collections.AI-generated
Bills on teacher disclosure, school book removals heading to Ayotte's deskNH context
New Hampshire Bulletin — Reports on SB 434 and related measures as they moved through the New Hampshire Legislature.AI-generated
BOOK BAN ALERT: Bill headed to Gov. Ayotte would create avenues to remove books from schoolsCritics — NH
ACLU of New Hampshire — A New Hampshire civil-liberties group's objections to the review-and-removal process SB 434 would establish.AI-generated

Documents (PDF)

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