SB 72 · 2025 · Senate · Children and Family Law Committee

Parental bill of rights

(New Title) establishing a parental bill of rights.

Establishes a parents' bill of rights over their child's education and upbringing, bars schools from infringing those rights absent a narrowly tailored compelling state interest, requires school board notice and involvement policies, and creates a private right of action for enforcement.AI-generated

Status

Died on the table in the House · June 5, 2025

✓Introduced
✓Senate
✕House
Governor
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 their 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 amended by the House. 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

Public testimony

484 signed in online · 95 wrote testimony

4% support96% oppose0% neutral

ForParents should have greater authority over their children's education

AgainstDuplicates existing parent-school communication, pits sides against each other

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“The gov and teachers have proven themselves to be outrageously biased and willing to harm the children of others for the sake of progressives agenda!…”

— William Bigg, Goffstownsupports

“Please support this bill to have a parent’s bill of rights in education . Parents should have control over their children’s education.”

— Jacqueline Larochelle, New Bostonsupports

“Senator, Dont be shy about sponsoring this. I know it is politically risky, but be brave.”

— Daniel Richardson, Nashuasupports

“SB 72 contains vague language regarding the rights and ability for parents to file litigation against public schools if a broad set of rights are “infringed” upon.…”

— Amie Edmunds, Wolfeboroopposes

“This bill is vague and unworkable, an attack on New Hampshire's students and teachers. The state has no business governing children's ideas about themselves and can't try to hold teachers accountable using vaguely worded threats.”

— Shannon Cole, Kensingtonopposes

“Parents have the right to parent their OWN children. Another parent can not tell my kid what they can and can not read, and they should not be able to do that at school either! This law is unnecessary since an objectionable material law is already in place.…”

— Amy Clark Canty, Milfordopposes

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 6, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0540s2–1
Overall
67% yea
Mar 6, 2025SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2025-0540sadopted
Mar 6, 2025SenateRoll callSen. Long Floor Amendment # 2025-0664sFailed8–16How they voted
Overall
33% yea
Party-line vote
Republicans
0–160% yea
Democrats
8–0100% yea
Mar 6, 2025SenateRoll callOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-0540sAdopted16–8How they voted
Overall
67% yea
Party-line vote
Republicans
16–0100% yea
Democrats
0–80% yea
Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
Mar 20, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass3–2
Overall
60% yea
Mar 20, 2025SenateVoice voteSen. Lang Floor Amendment # 2025-1111sadopted
Mar 20, 2025SenateRoll callOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-1111sAdopted15–8How they voted
Overall
65% yea
Party-line vote
Republicans
15–0100% yea
Democrats
0–80% yea
Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
May 6, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1832h (NT)9–7
Overall
56% yea
Jun 5, 2025HouseVoice voteSpecial Order to 06/05/2025 (Rep. S. Smith)adopted
Jun 5, 2025HouseRoll callLay SB 72 on Table (Rep. Petrigno)Failed168–211How they voted
Overall
44% yea
Party-line vote
Republicans
3–2091% yea
Democrats
164–299% yea
Other
1–0100% yea
Jun 5, 2025HouseVoice voteAmendment 2025-1832hfailed
Jun 5, 2025HouseRoll callFloor amendment 2025-2492h (Rep. Packard)Adopted215–166How they voted
Overall
56% yea
Party-line vote
Republicans
213–1100% yea
Democrats
2–1641% yea
Other
0–10% yea
Jun 5, 2025HouseRoll callFloor amendment 2025-2348h (Rep. Raymond)Failed169–212How they voted
Overall
44% yea
Party-line vote
Republicans
2–2121% yea
Democrats
166–0100% yea
Other
1–0100% yea
Jun 5, 2025HouseRoll callOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2492hAdopted214–167How they voted
Overall
56% yea
Party-line vote
Republicans
212–299% yea
Democrats
2–1641% yea
Other
0–10% yea
Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
Jun 12, 2025SenateVoice voteSen. Abbas Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendmentadopted

Hearings and debates

Feb 3, 2025Public hearingSenate Children and Family Law19:41–23:293m 48slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
Mar 6, 2025Floor debateSenate floor31:51–33:171m 26slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0540s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-0540s — adopted, roll call 16-8; Committee Amendment # 2025-0540s — adopted, voice vote
Mar 20, 2025Floor debateSenate floor1:48:10–1:54:035m 53slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-1111s — adopted, roll call 15-8; Sen. Lang Floor Amendment # 2025-1111s — adopted, voice vote
Apr 8, 2025Public hearingHouse Children and Family Law3:24:25–3:26:091m 44slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
May 6, 2025Public hearingHouse Children and Family Law1:01:21–1:13:2612m 5slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1832h (NT) — roll call; Executive Session
Jun 5, 2025Floor debateHouse floor17:31–22:004m 29slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2492h — adopted, roll call 214-167; Amendment # 2025-1832h — failed, voice vote; FLAM # 2025-2492h (Rep. Packard) — adopted, roll call 215-166
Jun 12, 2025Floor debateSenate floor28:35–29:2449slocated in the stream transcriptSen. Abbas Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment — adopted, voice vote

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

Legislative history

Jan 9, 2025SenIntroduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Children and Family Law; SJ 3
Feb 3, 2025SenHearing: 02/03/2025, Room Reps Hall, SH, 10:00 am; SC 7A
Mar 6, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0540s, 03/06/2025, Vote 2-1; SC 11
Mar 6, 2025SenCommittee Amendment # 2025-0540s, AA, VV; 03/06/2025; SJ 6
Mar 6, 2025SenSen. Long Floor Amendment # 2025-0664s, RC 8Y-16N, AF; 03/06/2025; SJ 6
Mar 6, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-0540s, RC 16Y-8N, MA; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 03/06/2025; SJ 6
Mar 20, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass, 03/20/2025, Vote 3-2; SC 13
Mar 20, 2025SenSen. Lang Floor Amendment # 2025-1111s, AA, VV; 03/20/2025; SJ 8
Mar 20, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-1111s, RC 15Y-8N, MA; OT3rdg; 03/20/2025; SJ 8
Mar 27, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Children and Family Law HJ 11 P. 110
Apr 8, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 04/08/2025 01:15 pm LOB 206-208
May 6, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 05/06/2025 10:00 am LOB 206-208
May 6, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1832h (NT) 05/06/2025 (Vote 9-7; RC) HC 27 P. 13
May 12, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
Jun 5, 2025HouseSpecial Order to 06/05/2025 (Rep. S. Smith): MA VV 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 12
Jun 5, 2025HouseLay SB 72 on Table (Rep. Petrigno): MF RC 168-211 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 30
Jun 5, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-1832h: AF VV 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 32
Jun 5, 2025HouseFLAM # 2025-2492h (Rep. Packard): AA RC 215-166 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 32
Jun 5, 2025HouseFLAM # 2025-2348h (Rep. Raymond): AF RC 169-212 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 37
Jun 5, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2492h: MA RC 214-167 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 39
Jun 12, 2025SenSen. Abbas Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 06/12/2025; SJ 16

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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