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HB 1792 · 2026 · House · Education Policy and Administration Committee

Narrowing teaching discrimination lawsuits

AI-generated

(New Title) relative to the prohibition on teaching discrimination.

Requires that an educator act purposefully for conduct to count as prohibited teaching discrimination under state law, and removes the ability of aggrieved parties to sue a school or district or seek relief through the commission for human rights.AI-generated

Status

Recommended for passage but never voted; died at adjournment · May 14, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill requires that educators must act purposefully in academic instruction in order for their actions to constitute teaching discrimination. This bill also removes the ability for aggrieved parties to both initiate a civil action against a school or school district and to pursue a remedy through the New Hampshire commission for human rights.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as amended by the Senate.

“No pupil in any public school in this state shall be purposefully taught, instructed, inculcated or compelled to express belief in, or support for, any one or more of the following:”
RSA 193:40, I

One word does the work: "purposefully" is added to the prohibition on teaching discrimination.AI-generated

“Purposeful violation of this section by an educator shall be considered a violation of the educator code of conduct that justifies disciplinary sanction by the state board of education.”
RSA 193:40, III

Discipline runs through the educator code of conduct — the civil action and human-rights-commission route come out.AI-generated

“Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit discussing, as part of a larger course of academic instruction, the historical existence of ideas and subjects identified in this section.”
RSA 193:40, II

The teaching-history carve-out, carried over intact from current law.AI-generated

“For the purposes of this section, "educator" means a professional employee of any school district whose position requires certification by the state board pursuant to RSA 189:39. Administrators, specialists, and teachers are included within the definition of this term.”
RSA 193:40, IV

Who is covered: certified staff, including administrators and specialists.AI-generated

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Mike BelcherRPrime
  • Rep. Kristin NobleRChair· Education Policy and Administration
  • Rep. Jason OsborneRMajority Leader

Also: Rep. Travis CorcoranR, Rep. Matt Sabourin dit ChoinièreR

Public testimony

1,624 signed in online · 738 wrote testimony

22% support78% oppose0% neutral

ForSchools should focus on academics, not political indoctrination

AgainstBill's terms are vague and unconstitutional

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Public schools cannot be a venue for anti-American indoctrination. Teaching children to hate themselves or their country is entirely counterproductive to the sustainment and advancement of our civilization.”
— Jason Osborne, Auburn · Rockingham 2supports
“I am writing in strong support of HB 1792, the CHARLIE Act. Our schools should be places of learning, not political training grounds. New Hampshire families expect classrooms to focus on reading, writing, math, science, and history — not ideological agendas.…”
— Sayra DeVito, Danville · Rockingham 8supports
“Honorable Committee Members, please vote OTP on HB 1792. Transgenderism has become the established religion of our public schools.…”
— Stephen Scaer, Nashuasupports
“This bill is nonsensical and down right offensive. Our shared history is real and young people deserve true education. Denial of LGBTQIA+ folks is discrimination and harms young people and their families. Do not lie to your constituents and say this is to "protect children."…”
— Olivia Webb, Manchester · New Hampshire Youth Movementopposes
“Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony regarding HB 1792. This legislation is built on a dramatized and exaggerated portrayal of New Hampshire public schools.…”
— Carly Lemire, Hopkintonopposes
“Please allow our educators to do their jobs. Kristin Noble should be forced to resign after her recent messages about school segregation were leaked.…”
— Jessica Syner, Windhamopposes

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
  • Feb 4, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass9–8
    Overall
    53% yea
  • Feb 19, 2026HouseRoll callOught to PassAdopted184–164How they voted
    Overall
    53% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    184–597% yea
    Democrats
    0–1590% yea
  • May 7, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1744s3–2
    Overall
    60% yea
  • May 14, 2026SenateCommittee reportCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1744s3–2
    Overall
    60% yea
  • May 14, 2026SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2026-1744sfailed
  • May 14, 2026SenateRoll callSen. Abbas Floor Amendment # 2026-1779sAdopted15–8How they voted
    Overall
    65% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    15–0100% yea
    Democrats
    0–80% yea
  • May 14, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1779sadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • May 21, 2026HouseRoll callHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1779s (Rep. Noble)Failed127–222How they voted
    Overall
    36% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    127–6068% yea
    Democrats
    0–1610% yea
    Other
    0–10% yea
  • May 21, 2026HouseVoice voteHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1779h (Rep. Noble)adopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 2, 2026Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration5:04:05–5:08:554m 50slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 19, 2026Floor debateHouse floor1:26:26–1:37:1610m 50slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass — adopted, roll call 184-164; Referred to Finance; Referral Waived by Committee Chair per House Rule 47(f)
  • Mar 10, 2026Public hearingSenate Educationfrom 2:42:51located in the stream transcript==RECESSED== Hearing
  • Mar 17, 2026Public hearingSenate Education1:43–40:5339m 10slocated in the stream transcript==RECONVENE== Hearing
  • May 14, 2026Floor debateSenate floor5:10:14–5:12:302m 16slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1744s; Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1779s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-1744s — failed, voice vote
  • May 21, 2026Floor debateHouse floor1:12:27–1:15:142m 47slocated in the stream transcriptHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1779s (Rep. Noble) — failed, roll call 127-222; House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1779h (Rep. Noble) — adopted, voice vote

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Education Policy and Administration HJ 1 P. 36
  2. Feb 2, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/02/2026 02:00 pm GP 232
  3. Feb 4, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/04/2026 02:00 pm GP 232
  4. Feb 4, 2026HouseMajority : Ought to Pass 02/04/2026 (Vote 9-8; RC) HC 7 P. 30
  5. Feb 10, 2026HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Feb 19, 2026HouseOught to Pass: MA RC 184-164 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 59
  7. Feb 19, 2026HouseReferred to Finance 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 62
  8. Feb 19, 2026HouseReferral Waived by Committee Chair per House Rule 47(f) 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 112
  9. Feb 19, 2026SenIntroduced 02/19/2026 and Referred to Education; SJ 5
  10. Mar 10, 2026Sen==RECESSED== Hearing: 03/10/2026, Map Room, SL , 10:30 am; SC 9
  11. Mar 17, 2026Sen==RECONVENE== Hearing: 03/17/2026, Map Room, SL, 09:15 am; SC 10
  12. May 7, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1744s, 05/07/2026, Vote 3-2; SC 17
  13. May 14, 2026SenSpecial Order to 05/14/2026, Without Objection, MA; 05/07/2026 SJ 11
  14. May 14, 2026SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1744s, 05/14/2026, Vote 3-2; SC 18
  15. May 14, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1744s, AF, VV; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
  16. May 14, 2026SenSen. Abbas Floor Amendment # 2026-1779s, RC 15Y-8N, AA; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
  17. May 14, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1779s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
  18. May 21, 2026HouseHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1779s (Rep. Noble): MF RC 127-222 05/21/2026 HJ 14 P. 8
  19. May 21, 2026HouseHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1779h (Rep. Noble): MA VV 05/21/2026 HJ 14 P. 10

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Background reading

Evergreen reading on the policy area — spanning perspectives — not coverage of this specific bill.

  • Educational gag ordersFree expression

    PEN America — The national wave of teaching restrictions and how their enforcement provisions differ.AI-generated

  • Map of divisive concepts legislationFree speech

    FIRE — A civil-liberties tracker of what has been enacted and struck down.AI-generated

  • Local Government Center v. New HampshireLitigation — NH

    ACLU of New Hampshire — The New Hampshire challenge to the teaching-discrimination law and its vagueness holding.AI-generated

Documents (PDF)

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