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SB 96 · 2025 · Senate · Education Committee

Parental rights to school information

AI-generated

(New Title) relative to mandatory disclosure by school district employees to parents and relative to enforcement of parental rights against school districts and school employees.

Requires school employees to respond honestly and completely to parents' written requests for information about their children, defines a compelling state interest standard for withholding such information, and creates penalties and a right to sue for violations.AI-generated

Status

Died — the House and Senate did not agree · June 11, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕Senate
  3. House
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill: I. Requires all school employees to respond honestly and completely to written requests by parents regarding information relating to their children. II. Defines compelling state interest and establishes penalties for violation of parental rights by school districts and school employees.

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

“Educators credentialed by the New Hampshire department of education shall have a duty to respond to written inquiries by parents regarding material information relating to their child enrolled in that educator’s school.”
RSA 189:13-d
“Although there are many circumstances in which a state actor, such as a teacher or a school, may act in loco parentis, the mere fact that such a state actor is acting in this capacity is not sufficient to establish a compelling state interest.”
RSA 189:13-e
“No school or school personnel shall infringe upon any of the parental rights set forth in this title, unless the infringement is supported by clear and convincing evidence and is narrowly tailored to address the compelling state interest.”
RSA 189:13-f
“Such response to a written request shall be sent within 10 business days of its receipt and be answered completely and honestly to the extent permitted by state or federal law.”
RSA 189:13-d

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Timothy LangRPrimeMajority Whip
  • Sen. Daniel InnisRVice Chair· Education Finance
  • Sen. Kevin AvardRDeputy Majority Whip
  • Sen. James GrayRChair· Election Law and Municipal Affairs
  • Sen. Sharon CarsonRPresident of the Senate
  • Sen. Ruth WardRChair· Education
  • Sen. Keith MurphyRChair· Education Finance
  • Sen. Victoria SullivanRVice Chair· Education
  • Sen. Regina BirdsellRMajority Leader
  • Sen. Bill GannonRChair· Judiciary
  • Sen. Howard PearlRChair· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Rep. Jeanine NotterRAssistant Majority Leader
  • Rep. Jason OsborneRMajority Leader
  • Rep. Michael MoffettRChair· State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs

Also: Sen. Tim McGoughR

Public testimony

827 signed in online · 165 wrote testimony

26% support74% oppose0% neutral

ForParents have a fundamental right to information about their children

AgainstForced disclosure endangers LGBTQ+ youth in unsafe homes

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Please protect the rights of parents in NH by supporting SB96.”
— alan graustein, Sanborntonsupports
“No parent should be denied any information about their child in school. This includes mental health and any information about their medical conditions.”
— Laura Preston, Salemsupports
“Parents have EVERY right to know what is happening to THEIR child! Until age 18 that CHILD is a MINOR!!! Thankyou for your attention!”
— Marion Stanley, Atkinsonsupports
“The Office of the Child Advocate has grave concerns of the impact on child welfare and safety should SB96 relative to mandatory disclosure by school district employees to parents, as written, be adopted.…”
— Lissa Mascio, Concord · NH Office of the Child Advocateopposes
“SB 96 is dangerous. Forced outing puts LGBTQ+ minors in danger. Every child deserves a safe place to be themselves, and taking that away is cruel and harmful.…”
— Aris CormanOReilly, Merrimackopposes
“Like the unconstitutional "banned concepts" law, this culture war bill targets educators with the threat of a violation of the Educator Code of Conduct. Proponents say this is just requiring educators to be honest, but we know the undercurrent of what this bill is.”
— Amie Edmunds, Wolfeboroopposes

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 27, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass2–1
    Overall
    67% yea
  • Mar 27, 2025SenateRoll callOught to PassAdopted16–8How they voted
    Overall
    67% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    16–0100% yea
    Democrats
    0–80% yea
  • May 20, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2199h9–8
    Overall
    53% yea
  • Jun 5, 2025HouseDivisionAmendment 2025-2199hAdopted198–162
    Overall
    55% yea
  • Jun 5, 2025HouseVoice voteFloor amendment 2025-2699h (Rep. Cordelli)adopted
  • Jun 5, 2025HouseRoll callFloor amendment 2025-2713h (Rep. Potenza)Adopted186–179How they voted
    Overall
    51% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    186–1692% yea
    Democrats
    0–1630% yea
  • Jun 5, 2025HouseRoll callOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2199h 2025-2699h and 2025-2713hAdopted198–172How they voted
    Overall
    54% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    198–896% yea
    Democrats
    0–1640% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • Jun 5, 2025SenateVoice voteSen. Ward Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment; Requests C of Cadopted
  • Jun 5, 2025HouseVoice voteHouse Accedes to Senate Request for CofC (Rep. Kofalt)adopted

Hearings and debates

  • Mar 4, 2025Public hearingSenate Education7:18–11:043m 46slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Mar 27, 2025Floor debateSenate floor1:17:53–1:25:097m 16slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, roll call 16-8
  • Apr 9, 2025Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration2:26:11–2:29:343m 23slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • May 20, 2025Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administrationfrom 1:38:23located in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2199h — roll call; Executive Session
  • Jun 5, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamSen. Ward Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment; Requests C of C — adopted, voice vote; President Appoints: Senators Lang, Sullivan, Prentiss; (In Recess
  • Jun 5, 2025Floor debateHouse floor4:59:59–5:05:065m 7slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2199h 2025-2699h and 2025-2713h — adopted, roll call 198-172; Amendment # 2025-2199h — adopted, division 198-162; FLAM # 2025-2699h (Rep. Cordelli) — adopted, voice vote

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025SenIntroduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Education; SJ 3
  2. Mar 4, 2025SenHearing: 03/04/2025, Room 101, LOB, 09:00 am; SC 11
  3. Mar 27, 2025SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass, 03/27/2025, Vote 2-1; SC 14
  4. Mar 27, 2025SenOught to Pass: RC 16Y-8N, MA; OT3rdg; 03/27/2025; SJ 9
  5. Mar 27, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Education Policy and Administration HJ 11 P. 110
  6. Apr 9, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 04/09/2025 11:30 am LOB 205-207
  7. May 20, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 05/20/2025 09:30 am LOB 206-208
  8. May 20, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2199h 05/20/2025 (Vote 9-8; RC) HC 27 P. 17
  9. May 28, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  10. Jun 5, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-2199h: AA DV 198-162 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 86
  11. Jun 5, 2025HouseFLAM # 2025-2699h (Rep. Cordelli): AA VV 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 87
  12. Jun 5, 2025HouseFLAM # 2025-2713h(NT) (Rep. Potenza): AA RC 186-179 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 87
  13. Jun 5, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2199h 2025-2699h and 2025-2713h: MA RC 198-172 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 90
  14. Jun 5, 2025SenSen. Ward Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment; Requests C of C, MA, VV; (In Recess 06/05/2025); SJ 16
  15. Jun 5, 2025SenPresident Appoints: Senators Lang, Sullivan, Prentiss; (In Recess 06/05/2025); SJ 16
  16. Jun 5, 2025HouseHouse Accedes to Senate Request for CofC (Rep. Kofalt): MA VV 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 171
  17. Jun 5, 2025HouseSpeaker Appoints: Reps. Cordelli, Noble, Potenza, Freeman 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 171
  18. Jun 17, 2025Sen==RECESSED== Committee of Conference Meeting: 06/17/2025, 09:30 am, Room 100, SH
  19. Jun 17, 2025Sen==RECONVENE== Committee of Conference Meeting: 06/17/2025, 12:00 pm, Room 100, SH
  20. Jun 20, 2025HouseConference Committee Report: Not Filed HJ 17
  21. Jun 19, 2025SenConference Committee Report; Not Signed Off; 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.