CONCORD, NH — As communities across the country celebrate Banned Books Week (October 4-10, 2026), New Hampshire advocates are celebrating the rejection of yet another book ban bill at the State House and underscoring the importance of protecting the freedom to read at every level of government.
Earlier this year, Governor Kelly Ayotte vetoed SB 434, a controversial bill that would have enacted a statewide book ban and undermined local control. The SB 434 veto followed Governor Ayotte’s veto of HB 324 in 2025; the defeat of both bills were victories for academic freedom and local control, made possible by families, educators, and advocates speaking out across the state.
Statements from NH Freedom to Read Coalition supporters:
MacKenzie Nicholson, Senior Director of MomsRising New Hampshire, said: “Banned Books Week is an important reminder of what we’ve been fighting for and what we’ve won. This year, we’re celebrating because every book ban bill we fought in New Hampshire has failed. That’s a win for moms, families, educators, librarians, and every child who deserves the freedom to read and learn. We’re proud of what we accomplished together, and grateful our kids still have access to books and materials that help them grow, learn, and become amazing humans. This is the Live Free or Die state, and we intend to keep New Hampshire free to read. But don’t mistake our celebration for complacency. We’ll fiercely defend our kids, our schools, and our freedoms every single time. The moms are watching.”
Anthony Poore, Executive Director, NH Center for Justice, said: “Banned Books Week is a great reminder of why access to a wide range of stories and perspectives matters. When young Granite Staters are denied access to literature that brings different cultures and perspectives into their lives, we all lose! Books help students see themselves reflected, understand people whose lives are different from their own, and think more deeply about the world around them. When those books are restricted, Granite State students lose opportunities to build empathy, ask questions, think critically, and better understand one another’s lived experience(s).”
Christina Pretorius, Education Justice Campaign Director of Engage NH and mom of three children in public schools, said: “Banned Books Week is a celebration of ideas, learning, and diversity of thought. It’s an opportunity to celebrate how reading opens new worlds and perspectives for our students, and we’ll continue to work year round to ensure that Granite Staters can live free and read.”
Deb Howes, President of American Federation of Teachers-NH, said: "Public school libraries in the Granite State should open doors, not close them. At AFT-NH, we believe that every public school student has the right to access a broad range of books and materials that support learning, encourage curiosity, and foster critical thinking. Banned Books Week reminds us that censorship limits opportunities for students and undermines local decision-making. Protecting the freedom to read protects every public school student's constitutional right to a robust education.
Megan Tuttle, President of NEA-New Hampshire, said: "Books are windows into the world, opening young minds to new ideas, perspectives, and possibilities. New Hampshire educators are dedicated to ensuring every student has access to the books and support they need to spark a lifelong love of reading. When students are given a choice in what they read, as well as support and time to read, they thrive. Efforts to limit those choices and censor books written by mostly Black, brown, and LGBTQ+ authors—whether in Congress, at the State House, or in our local schools and libraries—deny students the ability to see themselves and understand our similarities and our differences. This Banned Books Week, we're standing in solidarity with everyone fighting to ensure every student has to look no further than the shelves of their own school libraries to find age-appropriate books that show they are reflected and respected.”
Heidi Carrington Heath, Executive Director, NH Outright, said: “Banned Books Week invites us all to imagine a world of possibility and hope where all stories are told, celebrated, and freely expressed. We have seen multiple efforts this year to limit access to books in our schools, and attempts to limit access to ideas, or concepts that may challenge us. This week we join our partners, families, and individuals across the state in celebrating the commitment to live free, and read! We are stronger together when we can celebrate diverse stories, multiple viewpoints, and our expanding horizons through books, and literature. All New Hampshire young people deserve to be seen, be heard, and be themselves inside, and outside of the classroom. We celebrate the books that help make that possible.”
John Chrastka, Executive Director of EveryLibrary, said: "New Hampshire has sent a clear message that families do not need the state deciding what anyone’s child is allowed to read. The veto of SB 434 is an endorsement of local control and of every family's freedom to make its own choices. During Banned Books Week, we celebrate that victory while recognizing that censorship efforts have not gone away. EveryLibrary is proud to stand with Granite Staters who are defending a simple New Hampshire principle: live free and read.”
Amanda Azad, Policy Director at the ACLU of New Hampshire, said, “New Hampshire should be a state that encourages learning, not censorship — and our state's politicians must protect free speech and stop the rinse and repeat of new school censorship bills each year. Let's all pick up a book for banned book week and reflect on why such a week need exist. In the Granite State, we have long valued learning, local control, and living free - book bans have no place here. Happy reading!"
###
