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HB 1345 · 2026 · House · Education Policy and Administration Committee

School flags and student color guards

AI-generated

requiring schools to establish rules related to the display of flags and designate students at each school to serve as the school's color guard.

Sets requirements for displaying the United States, state, and POW/MIA flags at schools, requires each school to designate a student color guard to raise, lower, and maintain the flags, and establishes penalties for violations.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 5, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill adds requirements for the display of flags on school property and limits the flags which can be flown on school property. The bill also requires schools to designate students as the school's color guard to manage the display of flags on school property and establishes penalties for any violation of the section.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as introduced. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“The school board shall supply a United States and a New Hampshire state flag; the flags shall be made not less than 5 feet in length, with a functional flagstaff and appliances for displaying the same, for every [schoolhouse] school building in the district in which a public school is taught, at the expense of the district.”
RSA 189:17
“School districts may accept donations from private individuals and organizations of flags, flagstaffs, and appliances, or monetary donations to purchase, repair, or replace flagstaffs and appliances.”
RSA 189:17
“School districts shall prescribe rules and regulations for the proper custody, care and display of these flags, in accordance with RSA 3-E:2 [; the regulations shall require that wherever possible, the United States flag and the New Hampshire state flag shall be displayed on separate staffs of equal height].”
RSA 189:17
“When the flags are displayed on the same staff, the United States flag shall be displayed above the New Hampshire flag.”
RSA 189:17

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. James ThibaultRPrime
  • Rep. Michael MoffettRChair· State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs
  • Rep. Jordan UleryRVice Chair· Ways and Means
  • Sen. Daniel InnisRChair, Majority Policy Conference
  • Sen. Howard PearlRChair· Executive Departments and Administration

Also: Rep. Bryan MorseR, Rep. Brian NadeauR, Rep. Kristine PerezR, Rep. Raymond PlanteR, Rep. Melissa LitchfieldR

Public testimony

234 signed in online · 51 wrote testimony

24% support76% oppose0% neutral

ForSexual/gender-identity flags are inappropriate for children

AgainstBill violates First Amendment free speech rights

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“There should be one flag in every public school class room and that is the American/USA flag.”
— Marilyn Gibson, Merrimacksupports
“This bill suffers from the same malady as HB1132. Please fix these bills. 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!…”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuasupports
“I definitely support banning the pride flags .The only flag we need is the US flag and the State of NH flag.”
— Linda Goddard, New Ipswichsupports
“I am testifying in opposition to HB1345, 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
“I'm testifying in opposition to HB 1345, which restricts the ability of schools to fly flags, such as pride flags: flags which demonstrate support and acceptance for an already marginalized community.”
— Laura Sokoloski, Lebanonopposes
“Schools need to be safe and inclusive. Students individuality and self expression are paramount to healthy development. Knowing that schools are safe places where students can be supported and accepted is something that makes NH schools so wonderful.…”
— Jennifer Gallagher, Claremontopposes

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 23, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate16–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 5, 2026HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 28, 2026Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration3:36:17–4:01:1124m 54slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 5, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamInexpedient to Legislate — 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. 16
  2. Jan 28, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/28/2026 01:30 pm GP 232
  3. Feb 23, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/23/2026 01:30 pm GP 232
  4. Feb 23, 2026House: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/23/2026 (Vote 16-0; CC) HC 9 P. 11
  5. Mar 5, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 12

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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