Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
← All bills

HB 273 · 2025 · House · Judiciary Committee

Parental access to library records

AI-generated

relative to a parent's access to their minor child's library records.

Allows parents to access all of their minor child's library records.AI-generated

Status

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

Analysis

This bill allows parents to access all of their minor child's library records.

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

“All library records related to a minor's current borrowing of printed library materials and audio-visual materials, such as DVDs and CDs, shall be available to either parent or the legal guardian of the minor when requested by either parent or the legal guardian of the minor, or the parent or legal guardian of the minor whose address matches that on the library account or who is listed on the library account.”
Section 273:1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Mike DragoRPrimeMajority Whip
  • Rep. Kristin NobleRChair· Education Policy and Administration
  • Rep. Shane SiroisRClerk· Legislative Administration
  • Rep. Jason OsborneRMajority Leader
  • Sen. Keith MurphyRDeputy President Pro Tempore

Also: Rep. Kristine PerezR, Rep. Melissa LitchfieldR, Rep. Riché ColcombeR

Public testimony

72 signed in online · 24 wrote testimony

29% support71% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Please amend to include the library’s app where children can download books, movies, and the like.…”
— Carol Petrusewicz, Rochestersupports
“Parents should always have unimpeded right to access their minor's records in possession of any government body.”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuasupports
“A parent should have knowledge of the books, movies, games, etc. that his or her child is checking-out.…”
— Clay Kriese, Concordsupports
“Hello, my name is Ryan O'Hora and I oppose this bill. HB 273 aims to give parents access to their minor child's library records but leaves no room for guidance on how staff, directors, managers, etc will provide this information.…”
— Ryan O'Hora, Hooksett · A Public Library/Myselfopposes
“Books are a basis for self-growth, for escape. They can cover topics such as self-help, gender identity, sexuality, and career choices. By opening up library records to one's family, books are censored. This strips a child of both the joys of reading and self- discovery.…”
— Taylor Barry, Nashuaopposes
“A child should have the right to research a subject (re: abuse, alcoholism, etc) without the parent knowing, especially if the parent is involved, for their own safety.”
— Julie Colby, COLEBROOKopposes

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
  • Jan 30, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass9–8
    Overall
    53% yea
  • Mar 20, 2025HouseRoll callOught to PassAdopted196–162How they voted
    Overall
    55% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    192–697% yea
    Democrats
    4–1563% yea
  • May 15, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2048s3–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 15, 2025SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2025-2048sadopted
  • May 15, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-2048sadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • May 22, 2025HouseVoice voteHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-2048s and Requests CofC (Rep. Osborne)adopted
    Resulting text: Bill as adopted by both chambers
  • Jun 5, 2025SenateVoice voteSen. Abbas Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conferenceadopted
  • Jun 26, 2025SenateVoice voteConference committee report 2025-2780cadopted
  • Jun 26, 2025HouseRoll callConference committee report 2025-2780cAdopted201–165How they voted
    Overall
    55% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    200–498% yea
    Democrats
    1–1611% yea
  • Jun 26, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 22, 2025Public hearingHouse Judiciary6:11:43–6:20:008m 17slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Jan 30, 2025Public hearingHouse JudiciaryWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 20, 2025Floor debateHouse floor6:06:25–6:11:124m 47slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass — adopted, roll call 196-162
  • Apr 24, 2025Public hearingSenate Children and Family Law2:21:22–2:41:1319m 51slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 15, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2048s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-2048s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2025-2048s — adopted, voice vote
  • May 22, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-2048s and Requests CofC (Rep. Osborne) — adopted, voice vote; Speaker Appoints: Reps. Lynn, Alexander Jr., Peternel, M. Smith
  • Jun 5, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamSen. Abbas Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference — adopted, voice vote; President Appoints: Senators Abbas, Sullivan, Long; (In Recess
  • Jun 26, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamConference Committee Report Filed, # 2025-2780c; Conference Committee Report # 2025-2780c, Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled Adopted — voice vote
  • Jun 26, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnamed in a list of bills, not taken up — opens the full streamConference Committee Report 2025-2780c: Adopted — roll call 201-165; 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 Judiciary HJ 2 P. 13
  2. Jan 22, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/22/2025 03:30 pm LOB 206-208
  3. Jan 30, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 01/30/2025 10:00 am LOB 206-208
  4. Jan 30, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass 01/30/2025 (Vote 9-8; RC)
  5. Feb 10, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Mar 20, 2025HouseOught to Pass: MA RC 196-162 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 68
  7. Mar 20, 2025SenIntroduced 03/20/2025 and Referred to Children and Family Law; SJ 9
  8. Apr 24, 2025SenHearing: 04/24/2025, Room 103, SH, 10:20 am; SC 17
  9. May 15, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2048s, 05/15/2025; Vote 3-0; CC; SC 21A
  10. May 15, 2025SenCommittee Amendment # 2025-2048s, AA, VV; 05/15/2025; SJ 13
  11. May 15, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-2048s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/15/2025; SJ 13
  12. May 22, 2025HouseHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-2048s and Requests CofC (Rep. Osborne): MA VV 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 53
  13. May 22, 2025HouseSpeaker Appoints: Reps. Lynn, Alexander Jr., Peternel, M. Smith 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 53
  14. Jun 5, 2025SenSen. Abbas Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; (In recess 06/05/2025); SJ 16
  15. Jun 5, 2025SenPresident Appoints: Senators Abbas, Sullivan, Long; (In Recess 06/05/2025); SJ 16
  16. Jun 16, 2025HouseConference Committee Meeting: 06/16/2025 02:00 pm LOB 206-208
  17. Jun 26, 2025SenConference Committee Report Filed, # 2025-2780c; 06/26/2025
  18. Jun 24, 2025HouseRemoved from Consent (Reps. Berch, Scherr, C. Harvey, D. Fox, N. Germana, O'Rorke, Horrigan, Turer, Meuse, Manos) 06/24/2025 HJ 18 P. 17
  19. Jun 26, 2025SenConference Committee Report # 2025-2780c, Adopted, VV; 06/26/2025; SJ 17
  20. Jun 26, 2025HouseConference Committee Report 2025-2780c: Adopted, RC 201-165 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 23
  21. Jun 26, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/26/2025); SJ 18
  22. Jun 26, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 63
  23. Aug 1, 2025HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 08/01/2025; Chapter 273; eff.01/01/2026

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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