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SB 578 · 2026 · Senate · Education Committee

Recess and play-based curriculum rules

AI-generated

(Second New Title) relative to play-based curriculum and limitations on recess periods for pupils.

Removes the requirement that educators develop literacy through guided reading, limits withholding pupils from recess to instances posing a physical safety risk, and requires schools to minimize pupil exclusion from recess.AI-generated

Status

Died — the House and Senate did not agree · May 20, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕Senate
  3. House
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill: I. Modifies play-based curriculum by removing the requirement that educators develop literacy through guided reading. II. Limits withholding pupils from recess unless a pupil's participation poses a physical safety risk to the pupil or one or more of the pupil's peers. III. Requires that school staff make all reasonable efforts to minimize a pupil's exclusion from recess to the greatest extent possible.

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

“Instruction in support of standards for kindergarten [standards] shall be engaging and shall foster children's development and learning in all domains including physical, social, cognitive, and language.”
Section 1
“A pupil shall not be denied recess by a member of the school’s staff unless the pupil’s participation poses an immediate threat to the physical safety of the pupil or to the physical safety of one or more of the pupil’s peers.”
Section 2
“Educators shall create a learning environment that facilitates high quality, child-directed experiences based upon early childhood best teaching practices and play-based learning that comprise movement, creative expression, exploration, socialization, and music.”
Section 1
“Educators shall [develop literacy through guided reading and shall] provide unstructured time for the discovery of each child's individual talents, abilities, and needs.”
Section 1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Victoria SullivanRPrimeVice Chair· Education
  • Sen. Howard PearlRChair· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Sen. Sharon CarsonRPresident of the Senate
  • Sen. Kevin AvardRDeputy Majority Whip
  • Sen. Regina BirdsellRMajority Leader
  • Sen. Keith MurphyRChair· Education Finance
  • Rep. Lisa FreemanRAssistant Majority Whip
  • Rep. Kimberly RiceRVice Chair· Children and Family Law

Also: Rep. Raymond PeeplesR

Public testimony

37 signed in online · 2 wrote testimony

22% support78% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Now our Senate is micromanaging RECESS as part of "cherishing" education. This is nonsense.”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuaopposes

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 19, 2026SenateCommittee reportCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0509s4–1
    Overall
    80% yea
  • Feb 19, 2026SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2026-0509sadopted
  • Feb 19, 2026SenateVoice voteSen. Fenton Floor Amendment # 2026-0846sfailed
  • Feb 19, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-0509sadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • May 4, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1806h10–8
    Overall
    56% yea
  • May 14, 2026HouseDivisionAmendment 2026-1806hFailed12–319
    Overall
    4% yea
  • May 14, 2026HouseVoice voteFloor amendment 2026-1945h (Rep. McDonnell)adopted
  • May 14, 2026HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1945hadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 14, 2026SenateVoice voteSen. Ward Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment; Requests C of Cadopted
  • May 21, 2026HouseVoice voteHouse Accedes to Senate Request for CofC (Rep. Noble)adopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 20, 2026Public hearingSenate Education1:04:44–1:08:273m 43slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Feb 19, 2026Floor debateSenate floor3:53:01–4:01:128m 11slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0509s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-0509s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-0509s — adopted, voice vote
  • Mar 30, 2026Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration1:37:58–1:42:054m 7slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • May 4, 2026Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration3:30:14–3:31:191m 5slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1806h — roll call; Executive Session
  • May 14, 2026Floor 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 Ward, Sullivan, Altschiller; (In Recess
  • May 14, 2026Floor debateHouse floor4:42:45–4:43:531m 8slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1945h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2026-1806h — failed, division 12-319; FLAM # 2026-1945h (NT) (Rep. McDonnell) — adopted, voice vote
  • May 21, 2026Floor debateHouse floor1:21:47–1:22:541m 7slocated in the stream transcriptHouse Accedes to Senate Request for CofC (Rep. Noble) — adopted, voice vote; Speaker Appoints: Reps. Noble, Peternel, Freeman, M. Murray

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026SenIntroduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Education; SJ 1
  2. Jan 13, 2026Sen==CANCELLED== Hearing: 01/13/2026, Map Room, SL, 10:00 am; SC 45
  3. Jan 20, 2026SenHearing: 01/20/2026, Map Room, SL, 10:15 am; SC 46
  4. Feb 19, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0509s, 02/19/2026, Vote 4-1; SC 6
  5. Feb 19, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-0509s, AA, VV; 02/19/2026; SJ 4
  6. Feb 19, 2026SenSen. Fenton Floor Amendment # 2026-0846s, AF, VV; 02/19/2026; SJ 4
  7. Feb 19, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-0509s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 02/19/2026; SJ 4
  8. Feb 19, 2026HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 02/19/2026 and referred to Education Policy and Administration HJ 5 P. 127
  9. Mar 30, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 03/30/2026 10:20 am GP 232
  10. May 4, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 05/04/2026 10:30 am GP 232
  11. May 4, 2026HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1806h 05/04/2026 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 19 P. 21
  12. May 6, 2026HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  13. May 14, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-1806h: AF DV 12-319 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 68
  14. May 14, 2026HouseFLAM # 2026-1945h (NT) (Rep. McDonnell): AA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 69
  15. May 14, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1945h: MA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 69
  16. May 14, 2026SenSen. Ward Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment; Requests C of C, MA, VV; (In Recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
  17. May 14, 2026SenPresident Appoints: Senators Ward, Sullivan, Altschiller; (In Recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
  18. May 21, 2026HouseHouse Accedes to Senate Request for CofC (Rep. Noble): MA VV 05/21/2026 HJ 14 P. 10
  19. May 21, 2026HouseSpeaker Appoints: Reps. Noble, Peternel, Freeman, M. Murray 05/21/2026 HJ 14 P. 10
  20. May 26, 2026Sen==CANCELLED== Committee of Conference Meeting: 05/26/2026, 10:30 am, Room 154, GP
  21. May 27, 2026SenCommittee of Conference Meeting: 05/27/2026, 10:30 am, Room 154, GP
  22. Jun 1, 2026HouseConference Committee Report: Not Filed HJ 14

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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