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HB 1267 · 2026 · House · Education Policy and Administration Committee

Parental consent for student questioning

AI-generated

prohibiting school district attorneys and non-school personnel from questioning students without their parent or guardian present.

Requires school boards to adopt a policy preventing non-school personnel and certain school employees from questioning minor students without prior written parental or guardian permission, and requires adult students be asked about parental notification.AI-generated

Status

Passed over the governor’s veto (override succeeded) · August 19, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Governor's veto message

“I appreciate the Legislature's attention to protecting children and respecting parental rights. However, I also have concerns about the scope and unintended impacts of this legislation as drafted. After consulting with the Attorney General's Office, this bill could both impede criminal investigations and negatively impact public safety.”
— Gov. Kelly Ayotte · May 28, 2026 · excerpt
Governor's press release

The House voted 311–6 on the override (Aug 19, 2026); the Senate voted 24–0 on the override (Aug 19, 2026) — clearing the two-thirds required, so the veto was overridden. See the roll calls.

A passage from the Governor's veto message, quoted verbatim. The full message enters the record on veto day.

Analysis

This bill requires school boards to develop and adopt a policy to prevent the questioning of minor students by non-school employees and certain school employees without prior written permission of the parents or guardians, and such policy shall require that an adult student be asked if they want their parents or guardians notified before any such questioning.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as enacted.

“The policy shall prohibit the questioning of a minor student without expressed prior written parental or guardian permission, by non-employee persons including but not limited to persons who are attorneys, paralegals, and law enforcement personnel, as well as such persons in these professions who are employees of the school district or school administrative unit.”
RSA 189:1-a, VI

This is the bill's core prohibition, barring listed non-employees and certain employees from questioning minor students without written parental permission.AI-generated

“The policy shall also require that an adult student be asked if they want their parents or guardians notified, with the opportunity for the parents or guardians to be present during any such questioning.”
RSA 189:1-a, VI

It sets a separate, notice-based standard for students who are adults rather than requiring prior consent.AI-generated

“Parents and guardians of minor students and adult students aggrieved by a violation of this chapter may petition the superior court for declaratory and equitable relief, in the same manner as taxpayers pursuant to RSA 189:77.”
RSA 189:1-a, VI

It creates a private right of action allowing parents to sue in superior court over violations.AI-generated

“Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent personnel from the division of children, youth and family services or law enforcement from questioning a minor student without parental notice if the question is part of a legitimate child welfare inquiry under RSA 169-C.”
RSA 189:1-a, VI

It carves out an exception for child-welfare investigations conducted under the state's abuse and neglect statute.AI-generated

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Vanessa SheehanRPrimeVice Chair· Legislative Administration
  • Rep. Sayra DeVitoRClerk· Fish and Game and Marine Resources
  • Rep. Diane PauerRChair· Municipal and County Government
  • Rep. Sherri ReinfurtRClerk· Housing

Also: Rep. Travis CorcoranR, Rep. Susan DeRoyR, Rep. Melissa LitchfieldR, Rep. Linda McGrathR, Rep. Jeffrey TenczarR

Public testimony

47 signed in online · 13 wrote testimony

94% support6% oppose0% neutral

ForParents have a right to be present when children are questioned

AgainstReduces transparency and public accountability

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I support HB1267 that prohibits school district attorneys and non-school personnel from questioning students without their parent or guardian present.…”
— Traci Korhonen, Amherstsupports
“Parents are the rightful guardians of their children, not the government or school employees.”
— Demitra Papadinis, Deerfieldsupports
“I am vehemently opposed to students/children being questioned without their parent or guardian present. Children do not have the capacity to understand the manipulative tactics of adults and don't know how to avoid answers that put themselves and their families in jeopardy.…”
— Diane Hashem, Thorntonsupports
“I oppose this bill because it reduces transparency or public accountability and does not meaningfully improve outcomes for New Hampshire residents.”
— Tiffany Gladu, Goffstownopposes
“Without proactive safeguards, oversight mechanisms, and equity-centered conditions, the bill’s unintended harms outweigh its potential benefits.”
— Georgina Lambert, Belmontopposes

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
  • Jan 29, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass16–1
    Overall
    94% yea
  • Feb 12, 2026HouseVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • Apr 16, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass4–1
    Overall
    80% yea
  • Apr 16, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • May 14, 2026SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted
  • Aug 19, 2026HouseRoll callOverride the veto — shall the bill become law notwithstanding the objectionsAdopted311–6How they voted
    Overall
    98% yea
    Republicans
    174–199% yea
    Democrats
    137–596% yea
  • Aug 19, 2026SenateRoll callOverride the veto — shall the bill become law notwithstanding the objectionsAdopted24–0How they voted
    Overall
    100% yea
    Republicans
    16–0100% yea
    Democrats
    8–0100% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 28, 2026Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration1:05:30–1:18:2712m 57s
  • Feb 12, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Mar 17, 2026Public hearingSenate Education1:30:44–1:41:0310m 19s
  • Apr 16, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • May 14, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Adopted — voice vote
  • Aug 19, 2026Floor debateSenate floor1:18:50–1:21:142m 24slocated in the stream transcriptNotwithstanding the Governor's Veto, Shall HB 1267 Become Law — roll call 24-0
  • Aug 19, 2026Floor debateHouse floor1:32:05–1:34:172m 12slocated in the stream transcriptVeto Overridden — roll call 311-6

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. 13
  2. Jan 28, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/28/2026 11:00 am GP 232
  3. Jan 28, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 01/28/2026 11:00 am GP 232
  4. Jan 29, 2026House: Ought to Pass 01/29/2026 (Vote 16-1; CC) HC 6 P. 4
  5. Feb 12, 2026HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 02/12/2026 HJ 4 P. 2
  6. Feb 5, 2026SenIntroduced 02/05/2026 and Referred to Education; SJ 4
  7. Mar 17, 2026SenHearing: 03/17/2026, Room Map Room, SL, 10:00 am; SC 10
  8. Apr 16, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass, 04/16/2026; Vote 4-1; CC; SC 14
  9. Apr 16, 2026SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/16/2026; SJ 9
  10. May 14, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
  11. May 14, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 147
  12. May 28, 2026HouseVetoed by Governor Ayotte 05/28/2026
  13. Aug 19, 2026HouseVeto Overridden 08/19/2026: RC 311-6 by Required Two-Thirds Vote HJ 16
  14. Aug 19, 2026SenNotwithstanding the Governor's Veto, Shall HB 1267 Become Law: RC 24Y-0N, Veto Overridden by necessary two-thirds vote; 08/19/2026; SJ 15
  15. Jan 1, 2027HouseEnacted in accordance with Article 44 PartII of the N.H. Constitution without the signature of the governor. Chapter 340;eff. 01/01/2027

Coverage

  • Ayotte's veto hand strong on bills passed by fellow RepublicansKeene Sentinel · Jun 25, 2026

    Reports Ayotte's veto of HB 1267, which was intended to prohibit school district attorneys and non-school personnel from questioning students without their parent or guardian present.AI-generated

  • HB 1267 (2026) | NH Legislation | Citizens CountCitizens Count

    Bill-tracking page describing HB 1267 as mandating that school boards adopt policies barring non-school personnel from questioning minor students without prior written parental permission, and notes the governor's veto.AI-generated

Background reading

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

Documents (PDF)

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