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HB 1132 · 2026 · House · Education Policy and Administration Committee

Banning certain flags in schools

AI-generated

(New Title) prohibiting the display of certain flags and banners in public schools and public charter schools and establishing penalties for the display of prohibited flags and banners.

Bars public schools and public charter schools from displaying flags or banners other than the U.S., New Hampshire, and POW/MIA flags (with listed exemptions), and sets escalating penalties, including state board fines up to $1,000, for violations.AI-generated

Status

Referred to interim study (Senate) · May 5, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill prohibits the display of certain flags and banners in public schools and public charter schools and establishes penalties for the display of prohibited flags and banners. This bill also authorizes the state board of education to issue monetary penalties for a third or subsequent violation of the act.

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

“All public schools and public charter schools shall be prohibited from displaying any flag or banner inside or outside of school buildings other than the flag of the United States of America, the New Hampshire state flag, and the POW/MIA flag.”
RSA 189:17-c
“Any violation of this section shall result in a formal complaint being issued to the school superintendent, who within 5 days of receipt of the complaint shall determine the complaint's validity.”
RSA 189:17-c
“If the superintendent finds the complaint constitutes a violation of this section, the superintendent shall order the immediate removal of the prohibited flag from school premises, unless such flag was already removed, as well as issue the following penalties:”
RSA 189:17-c
“For a first violation of this section, a warning shall be issued to the perpetrator of the offense.”
RSA 189:17-c

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Lisa FreemanRPrimeAssistant Majority Whip
  • Rep. Juliet Harvey-BoliaRDeputy Majority Floor Leader
  • Sen. Kevin AvardRDeputy Majority Whip

Also: Rep. Harry BeanR, Rep. Riché ColcombeR, Rep. Mary FordR, Rep. Melissa LitchfieldR, Rep. Laurence MinerR, Rep. James ThibaultR

Public testimony

364 signed in online · 136 wrote testimony

19% support80% oppose0% neutral

ForSchools should remain politically neutral

AgainstPride flags signal safety and inclusion for LGBTQ+ students

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Children should not be indoctrinated while away from their families with the recent negative changes of our society when they go to school. All groomers are of one party affiliation mentally abusing these children.…”
— J M, Contoocook · Family of 7supports
“Please pass this bill and keep our schools away from political flags only American flags.”
— Julie S, Guildsupports
“There must not be any flag in a public school classroom other than the American/USA flag.”
— Marilyn Gibson, Merrimacksupports
“HB1132 is yet another hate crime masquerading as legislation. But what do you really expect when the chairman of the committee is a segregationist committed to dividing people and destroying public education in our state?”
— David Meuse, Portsmouth · Rock 37opposes
“I oppose this bill as written in general. But if it is going to move forward I would like to see the exemptions extended to World History classes as well.…”
— Bernard Campbell, Salemopposes
“I am testifying in opposition to HB1132, many non-official flags can help students feel safe in their schools. Students wearing a pride flag are also communicating that they are a safe person to go to and be around in your are queer.…”
— Nicole Lockhart-Rios, Intervaleopposes
“Why give superintendent 5 days to investigate and then order the immediate removal of the perversion? Rogue activist teachers will snatch it down in couple days, laughing hysterically at this statute! This bill needs a practicality review.…”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuaneutral

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 2, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0767h (NT)10–8
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseDivisionAmendment 2026-0767hAdopted184–150
    Overall
    55% yea
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseVoice voteFloor amendment 2026-1095h (Rep. Horrigan)failed
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseVoice voteFloor amendment 2026-1133h (Rep. Horrigan)failed
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseRoll callOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0767hAdopted182–156How they voted
    Overall
    54% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    181–697% yea
    Democrats
    1–1501% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 7, 2026SenateCommittee report: Referred to Interim Study3–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 7, 2026SenateVoice voteRefer to Interim Studyadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 28, 2026Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administrationfrom 4:28:38located in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 2, 2026Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration16:14–17:211m 7slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0767h (NT) — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 11, 2026Floor debateHouse floor5:00:22–5:08:107m 48slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0767h — adopted, roll call 182-156; Amendment # 2026-0767h (NT) — adopted, division 184-150; FLAM # 2026-1095h(NT) (Rep. Horrigan) — failed, voice vote
  • Apr 8, 2026Public hearingSenate Executive Departments and Administration48:45–52:203m 35slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 7, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Referred to Interim Study; Refer to Interim Study — 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. 7
  2. Jan 28, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/28/2026 02:00 pm GP 232
  3. Mar 2, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 03/02/2026 09:30 am GP 232
  4. Mar 2, 2026HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0767h (NT) 03/02/2026 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 10 P. 36
  5. Mar 4, 2026HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Mar 11, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0767h (NT): AA DV 184-150 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 112
  7. Mar 11, 2026HouseFLAM # 2026-1095h(NT) (Rep. Horrigan): AF VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 113
  8. Mar 11, 2026HouseFLAM # 2026-1133h(NT) (Rep. Horrigan): AF VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 114
  9. Mar 11, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0767h: MA RC 182-156 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 114
  10. Mar 12, 2026SenIntroduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Executive Departments and Administration; SJ 7
  11. Apr 8, 2026SenHearing: 04/08/2026, Room 103, SH, 09:10 am; SC 13
  12. May 7, 2026Sen: Referred to Interim Study, 05/07/2026; Vote 3-0; CC; SC 17
  13. May 7, 2026SenRefer to Interim Study, MA, VV; 05/07/2026; SJ 11

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Background reading

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

  • What Are Charter Schools?Explainer

    Education Week — A plain-language primer on how charter schools are funded and governed, and the tradeoffs of their independence.AI-generated

  • National Charter School Study III (2023)Academic — national evidence

    CREDO · Stanford — The most-cited national study of charter outcomes: charter students gained modestly more in reading and math than matched public-school peers, with special-education students an exception.AI-generated

  • Key Conclusions from the New Orleans school reformsAcademic — the all-charter precedent

    Education Research Alliance for New Orleans (Tulane) — Nonpartisan researchers' findings on what happened when New Orleans became the nation's only all-charter district — the one real-world analog to HB 1358's proposal.AI-generated

  • The New Orleans Case for All-Charter School DistrictsPro-charter

    Education Next — A reform-oriented argument that district-wide charter conversion drove measurable gains in New Orleans and offers a model for other systems.AI-generated

  • School Choice and Segregation: Evidence from New OrleansCritical

    Brookings — Analysis warning that charter-based choice — including in New Orleans — tends to modestly increase school segregation rather than reduce it.AI-generated

  • Public Charter Schools in New HampshireNH context — official

    NH Department of Education — The state's own overview of how NH's ~38 public charter schools are authorized, governed, and funded (state pays roughly $10k/pupil vs. ~$19k in districts).AI-generated

Documents (PDF)

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