HB 749 · 2025 · House · Education Policy and Administration Committee
Mandatory communism instruction in schools
AI-generated(New Title) requiring instruction on communism in public high schools.
Requires public high schools to provide at least one hour of instruction on the nature and history of communism, either as a standalone activity or embedded within an existing course.AI-generated
Status
Killed in the Senate — Inexpedient to Legislate · May 1, 2025- ✓Introduced
- ✓House
- ✕Senate
- Governor
- Law
Analysis
This bill requires high school students to receive instruction on communism.
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
“Such instruction may be provided as a stand alone activity or embedded in an existing course.”
Official record
gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source
Sponsors
Rep. Mike BelcherR, Rep. Jose CambrilsR, Rep. Daniel Popovici-MullerR, Rep. James ThibaultR
Public testimony
184 signed in online · 51 wrote testimony
2% support97% oppose1% neutral
ForSchools should teach complete, unbiased history
AgainstCurriculum is a local, not a state legislative, decision
AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.
Read the argumentsIn their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted
“Any entity educating the youth of this nation should be required to teach the true and unbiased history of everything, including things that are unpleasant or uncomfortable. Things like communism, fascism and genocide should not be excluded from the curriculum.”
“One hour is far too little to cover the horrors of every communist takeover in history. Recounting the exterminations of millions in socialist and communist purges as well as their cousin, fascism, would take the entire class time. Get real and make this a semester-long course.…”
“Local school districts are responsible for adopting curriculum. The state legislature should not be mandating it centrally from Concord.”
“I thought Republicans' whole deal was to allow local people to decide on curriculum? Letting them delegate this from the state house will open up the floodgates for them to start requiring propaganda.”
“This is asinine. What would they teach about communism? Is it in comparison to capitalism? Is it the truth about the philosophical underpinnings? How's it's played out historically? What is the actual topic and what teachers in this state are qualified to teach it?…”
“I do not see a problem with this bill, as long as education on communism approaches the subject through the lens of social theory and teaches why communist systems have failed.”
“It is important to have a broad understanding of different governing styles including communism but this bill is too vague. I support learning about communism in the lens of social theory and an understanding of why it has failed.”
Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.
Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026
Votes
yeanay- Mar 17, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1028h (NT)10–8Overall56% yea
- Overall44% yeaParty-line voteRepublicans4–2012% yeaDemocrats158–895% yea
- Resulting text: Bill as amended by the HouseOverall54% yeaParty-line voteRepublicans193–1294% yeaDemocrats7–1614% yea
- May 1, 2025SenateCommittee reportCommittee report: Inexpedient to Legislate3–2Overall60% yea
- May 1, 2025SenateVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted
Hearings and debates
- Mar 10, 2025Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration14:32–15:411m 9slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
- Mar 17, 2025Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration4:05:48–4:07:221m 34slocated in the stream transcriptMajoritiy Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1028h (NT) — roll call; Executive Session
- Mar 27, 2025Floor debateHouse floor1:30:34–1:33:302m 56slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-1028h — adopted, roll call 200-173; Amendment # 2025-1028h (NT) — adopted, voice vote; FLAM # 2025-1376h(NT) (Rep. Schultz) — failed, roll call 162-209
- Apr 10, 2025Public hearingSenate EducationWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamHearing
- May 1, 2025Floor debateSenate floor1:04:39–1:06:542m 15slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Inexpedient to Legislate — adopted, voice vote
Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.
Legislative history
- Jan 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Education Policy and Administration HJ 3 P. 26
- Mar 10, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 03/10/2025 09:30 am LOB 205-207
- Mar 17, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/17/2025 09:30 am LOB 205-207
- Mar 17, 2025HouseMajoritiy : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1028h (NT) 03/17/2025 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 17 P. 53
- Mar 19, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
- Mar 27, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-1028h (NT): AA VV 03/27/2025 HJ 11 P. 17
- Mar 27, 2025HouseFLAM # 2025-1376h(NT) (Rep. Schultz): AF RC 162-209 03/27/2025 HJ 11 P. 17
- Mar 27, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-1028h: MA RC 200-173 03/27/2025 HJ 11 P. 19
- Mar 27, 2025SenIntroduced 03/27/2025 and Referred to Education; SJ 10
- Apr 10, 2025SenHearing: 04/10/2025, Room 101, LOB, 10:00 am; SC 16
- May 1, 2025SenCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate, 05/01/2025, Vote 3-2; SC 19
- May 1, 2025SenInexpedient to Legislate, MA, VV === BILL KILLED ===; 05/01/2025; SJ 11
Coverage
No reporting linked yet.
Documents (PDF)
- Introducedversion
- As Amended by the Houseversion
- Amendment 2025-1028hamendment
- Amendment 2025-1376hamendment
Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.