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SB 33 · 2026 · Senate · Education Committee

Regulation of school library materials

AI-generated

relative to the regulation of public school materials.

Requires local school districts to adopt and publicly post policies identifying materials authorized for student use and outlining procedures for addressing complaints that material is harmful or age-inappropriate.AI-generated

Status

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

Analysis

This bill requires local school districts to adopt and publicly post policies describing materials authorized for use by students in the district and outlining procedures to address complaints alleging that material is harmful or age-inappropriate for use in the district's schools.

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

“"Material" means any printed matter, visual presentation, web-based content, live performance, or sound recording, including but not limited to books, magazines, motion picture films or videos, pamphlets, phonographic records, pictures, drawings, photographs, figures, statues, plays, dances, or other representations that are provided by the school district or by school employees, volunteers, guests, or speakers.”
RSA 189:74-a
“"Nudity" means the showing of the human male or female genitals, pubic area, or buttocks with less than a fully opaque covering; or the showing of the female breast with less than a full opaque covering of any portion thereof below the top of the nipple; or the depiction of covered male genitals in a discernibly turgid state.”
RSA 189:74-a
“A mother's breastfeeding of her baby shall not under any circumstance constitute nudity, irrespective of whether or not the nipple is covered during or incidental to feeding.”
RSA 189:74-a
“A mother's breastfeeding of her baby shall not under any circumstance constitute sexual conduct.”
RSA 189:74-a

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Kevin AvardRPrimeDeputy Majority Whip
  • Sen. Timothy LangRMajority Whip
  • Sen. Bill GannonRChair· Judiciary
  • Sen. Keith MurphyRChair· Education Finance
  • Sen. Howard PearlRChair· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Rep. Diane PauerRChair· Municipal and County Government
  • Rep. Shane SiroisRClerk· Legislative Administration

Also: Sen. Tim McGoughR, Rep. Jim KofaltR, Rep. Glenn CordelliR

Public testimony

No one submitted online testimony on this bill. See the record

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Mar 13, 2025SenateCommittee report: Rereferred to Committee4–1
    Overall
    80% yea
  • Mar 13, 2025SenateRoll callRereferred to CommitteeFailed8–16How they voted
    Overall
    33% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    0–160% yea
    Democrats
    8–0100% yea
  • Mar 13, 2025SenateRoll callOught to PassAdopted16–8How they voted
    Overall
    67% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    16–0100% yea
    Democrats
    0–80% yea
  • Nov 5, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-3079h10–8
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Jan 7, 2026HouseDivisionAmendment 2025-3079hAdopted175–150
    Overall
    54% yea
  • Jan 7, 2026HouseRoll callOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-3079hAdopted181–157How they voted
    Overall
    54% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    181–498% yea
    Democrats
    0–1530% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • Feb 5, 2026SenateVoice voteSen. Ward Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendmentadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 18, 2025Public hearingSenate Education1:40:20–1:43:203mlocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Mar 13, 2025Floor debateSenate floor2:59:05–3:12:5413m 49slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Rereferred to Committee; Rereferred to Committee — failed, roll call 8-16; Sen. Ward Moved Ought to Pass
  • Apr 23, 2025Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration1:31:28–1:32:371m 9slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • May 20, 2025Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration1:31:11–1:32:341m 23slocated in the stream transcriptExecutive Session; Retained in Committee
  • Nov 5, 2025Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration5:30:01–5:33:053m 4slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-3079h — roll call; Executive Session
  • Jan 7, 2026Floor debateHouse floor5:55:41–6:09:0313m 22slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-3079h — adopted, roll call 181-157; Amendment # 2025-3079h — adopted, division 175-150
  • Feb 5, 2026Floor debateSenate floor1:57:16–1:57:5539slocated in the stream transcriptSen. Ward Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment — adopted, voice vote; Special Order to the Present Time, Without Objection — adopted

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 8, 2025SenIntroduced 01/08/2025 and Referred to Education; SJ 2
  2. Feb 18, 2025SenHearing: 02/18/2025, Room 101, LOB, 10:30 am; SC 10
  3. Mar 13, 2025SenCommittee Report: Rereferred to Committee, 03/13/2025, Vote 4-1, CC SC 12
  4. Mar 13, 2025SenSB 33-FN was Removed from the Consent Calendar; 03/13/2025; SJ 7
  5. Mar 13, 2025SenRereferred to Committee, RC 8Y-16N, MF; 03/13/2025; SJ 7
  6. Mar 13, 2025SenSen. Ward Moved Ought to Pass; 03/13/2025; SJ 7
  7. Mar 13, 2025SenWithout Objection, Sen. Avard Moved the Question, MA; 03/13/2025; SJ 7
  8. Mar 13, 2025SenOught to Pass: RC 16Y-8N, MA; OT3rdg; 03/13/2025; SJ 7
  9. Mar 27, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Education Policy and Administration HJ 11 P. 109
  10. Apr 9, 2025House==CANCELLED== Public Hearing: 04/09/2025 10:00 am LOB 205-207
  11. Apr 23, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 04/23/2025 11:00 am LOB 205-207
  12. May 20, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 05/20/2025 09:30 am LOB 206-208
  13. May 20, 2025HouseRetained in Committee
  14. Nov 5, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 11/05/2025 02:00 pm GP 232
  15. Nov 5, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-3079h 11/05/2025 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 51 P. 29
  16. Nov 19, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  17. Jan 7, 2026HouseAmendment # 2025-3079h: AA DV 175-150 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 147
  18. Jan 7, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-3079h: MA RC 181-157 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 149
  19. Feb 5, 2026SenSpecial Order to the Present Time, Without Objection, MA; 02/05/2026; SJ 3
  20. Feb 5, 2026SenSen. Ward Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 02/05/2026; SJ 3

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

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.