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HB 781 · 2025 · House · Education Policy and Administration Committee

Cell phone-free school policies

AI-generated

(New Title) requiring school districts to adopt policies establishing a cell phone-free education.

Requires school districts to adopt policies governing student cell phone use to establish a cell phone-free education environment.AI-generated

Status

Vetoed; the override vote failed, so the veto stands · December 17, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✕Governor
  5. Law

Governor's veto message

“Thanks to the leadership of Representative Litchfield and others in the House and Senate, a bell-to-bell ban on cell phones in schools with stronger language was passed in House Bill 2.”
— Gov. Kelly Ayotte · Jul 7, 2025 · excerpt
Governor's press releaseHouse Journal 19, p. 31

The House voted 28–322 on the override (Dec 17, 2025) — short of the two-thirds required, so the veto was sustained. See the roll call.

Analysis

This bill requires school districts to adopt policies governing student cell phone use in schools.

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

“School boards and the board of trustees of chartered public schools shall develop and adopt a policy governing the use of student cell phones and other personal electronic communication devices in schools.”
Section 1
“The policy shall, at a minimum, restrict the use of student personal cell phones during class instruction, with approved exceptions determined by the superintendent or their designee with respect to student medical, disability, or language proficiency needs.”
Section 1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Melissa LitchfieldRPrime

Public testimony

147 signed in online · 46 wrote testimony

22% support77% oppose1% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I am writing as a parent in strong support of HB781, which requires school districts to adopt policies establishing a cell phone-free education. This bill is a necessary step toward fostering a more focused, engaging, and productive learning environment for our children.…”
— Tonja Neve, Strathamsupports
“Research continues to demonstrate the ill effects of near-constant cell phone use by minors (and, truthfully, most adults); see "The Anxious Generation" by Jonathon Haidt.…”
— Alex Campbell, Merrimacksupports
“I oppose this bill. Please vote no. I am a retired public art school teacher. I have students that excelled in the arts and struggled in main subjects. Many said it was the reason they came to school! Please don’t get rid of the arts.”
— Jacqueline Jacqueline, Hampsteadopposes
“Why would we want to take education away from our youth? Expand their education, don’t minimize it.”
— Alyssa Dupont, Berlinopposes
“I oppose this Bill. This is not the role of the State and the State should stay out of this and let local schools deal with this. Further.…”
— Gordon Springate, Wiltonopposes
“It really feels like there are more pressing things to spend time and resources on than this.”
— Marjorie Boyer, Merrimackneutral

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 5, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0733h (NT)16–1
    Overall
    94% yea
  • Mar 13, 2025HouseVoice voteAmendment 2025-0733hadopted
  • Mar 13, 2025HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0733hadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • Apr 2, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass25–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Apr 10, 2025HouseVoice voteOught to Passadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 15, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass4–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 15, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • Jun 12, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted
  • Dec 17, 2025HouseRoll callOverride the veto — shall the bill become law notwithstanding the objectionsFailed28–322How they voted
    Overall
    8% yea
    Republicans
    16–1729% yea
    Democrats
    12–1507% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 10, 2025Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration47:25–48:341m 9slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 3, 2025Public hearingHouse Education Policy and AdministrationWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamSubcommittee Work Session; ==RECESSED== Executive Session
  • Mar 5, 2025Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration40:44–48:357m 51slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0733h (NT); ==CONTINUED== Executive Session
  • Mar 13, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnamed in a list of bills, not taken up — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0733h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2025-0733h (NT) — adopted, voice vote; Referred to Finance
  • Mar 18, 2025Public hearingHouse Finance - Division II1:10:23–1:14:514m 28slocated in the stream transcriptDivision II Work Session
  • Mar 21, 2025Public hearingHouse Finance - Division II12:46–22:079m 21slocated in the stream transcriptDivision II Work Session
  • Apr 1, 2025Public hearingHouse Finance1:44:59–1:48:253m 26slocated in the stream transcriptExecutive Session
  • Apr 10, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 22, 2025Public hearingSenate EducationWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamHearing
  • May 15, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 12, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Adopted — voice vote
  • Dec 17, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamVeto Sustained — roll call 28-322

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Education Policy and Administration HJ 3 P. 27
  2. Feb 10, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/10/2025 10:15 am LOB 205-207
  3. Mar 3, 2025HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 03/03/2025 11:00 am LOB 203
  4. Mar 3, 2025House==RECESSED== Executive Session: 03/03/2025 01:00 pm LOB 205-207
  5. Mar 5, 2025House==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 03/05/2025 09:30 am LOB 205-207
  6. Mar 5, 2025House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0733h (NT) 03/05/2025 (Vote 16-1; CC)
  7. Mar 13, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0733h (NT): AA VV 03/13/2025 HJ 8 P. 12
  8. Mar 13, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0733h: MA VV 03/13/2025 HJ 8 P. 12
  9. Mar 13, 2025HouseReferred to Finance 03/13/2025 HJ 8 P. 12
  10. Mar 18, 2025HouseDivision II Work Session: 03/18/2025 10:00 am LOB 209
  11. Mar 21, 2025HouseDivision II Work Session: 03/21/2025 01:00 pm LOB 209
  12. Apr 1, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 04/01/2025 10:00 am LOB 210-211
  13. Apr 2, 2025House: Ought to Pass 04/02/2025 (Vote 25-0; CC) HC 19 P. 12
  14. Apr 10, 2025HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 04/10/2025 HJ 12 P. 5
  15. Mar 27, 2025SenIntroduced 03/27/2025 and Referred to Education; SJ 10
  16. Apr 22, 2025SenHearing: 04/22/2025, Room 101, LOB, 10:00 am; SC 18
  17. May 15, 2025SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass, 05/15/2025; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 21
  18. May 15, 2025SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/15/2025; SJ 13
  19. Jun 12, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/12/2025); SJ 17
  20. Jun 12, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/12/2025 HJ 17 P. 26
  21. Jul 7, 2025HouseVetoed by Governor Ayotte 07/07/2025 HJ 19 P. 31
  22. Dec 17, 2025HouseVeto Sustained 12/17/2025: RC 28-322 Lacking Necessary Two-Thirds Vote HJ 19

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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