CONCORD, NH–Today, the New Hampshire House of Representatives sustained Governor Ayotte’s veto of HB 324, 183-167. HB 324 was a book ban bill that would have had a chilling effect on students’ access to literature and freedom to read.
In her HB 324 veto message, Governor Ayotte stated: “the State of New Hampshire should not engage in the role of addressing questions of literary value and appropriateness” and cited the risks of “subjective standards” and “extensive civil action…from out-of-state groups,” underscoring the practical and constitutional dangers posed by the bill.
The strong bipartisan vote comes just weeks before the Legislature will take up SB 33, a similar bill that goes beyond banning books to also censor web pages, videos, artwork, performances, and other school materials.
After the vote, members of the New Hampshire Freedom to Read Coalition released the following statements:
“HB 324 would have handed a blunt instrument to book banners in New Hampshire. By sustaining Governor Ayotte’s veto, lawmakers have stood up for the freedom to read in the Granite State. Now, let’s keep supporting our librarians and trusting our local communities by saying no to SB 33,” said Jacquelyn Benson, NH Regional Leader, Authors Against Book Bans
Megan Tuttle, President, NEA-New Hampshire added, “"Granite Staters have sent a clear message to elected officials: decisions about curriculum and classrooms belong in local schools, not in the State House. While we celebrate the rejection of HB 324, we know the fight to protect the freedom to read for all students and to stop the criminalization of educators is not over. NEA-New Hampshire will remain vigilant and continue to oppose any attempt to ban books or censor classrooms."
Deb Howes, President of American Federation of Teachers - NH, said, “Today was a victory for Granite State public school students and their right to a robust public education. We thank Gov. Ayotte for vetoing this harmful bill and protecting the First Amendment right of students to access a wide variety of materials in their school library, as well as have robust and engaging curriculum and classrooms. We also applaud Gov. Ayotte for standing up for the New Hampshire tradition of local control for our school districts.”
“We’re glad to see today’s vote to sustain Governor Ayotte’s veto of HB 324, and it makes sense. New Hampshire families aren’t asking for book bans. Parents already work with teachers and local school leaders to make choices for their own kids. We value local control and access to books that help kids grow, build empathy, and learn honest history, not censorship or distractions from the real issues families face. We’ll be back in January to stop SB 33 so students can keep learning from honest, diverse stories,” said MacKenzie Nicholson, Senior Director, MomsRising in New Hampshire
“We are grateful to see Governor Ayotte’s smart decision-making remain in tact. All Granite Staters deserve the freedom to read, and to see themselves, and their families reflected in the books in their classrooms. Parents and teachers are already partners in the work of supporting each child inside of the classroom, and out. We look forward to maintaining a Granite State where every child can live free and read,” stated Heidi Carrington Heath, Executive Director, NH Outright.
Tanisha Johnson, Executive Director, Black Lives Matter NH, said, “We are grateful that the veto of HB 324 was sustained. This decision reflects what communities across New Hampshire have been saying all along: this bill is harmful, it erases history, and it puts our students at risk. Sustaining the veto is a win for truth, for educators, and for young people who deserve to see themselves fully and honestly represented in their education. BLM New Hampshire will continue to show up and keep fighting for SB 33, because our students deserve learning environments rooted in truth, dignity, and justice.”
Christina Pretorious, Education Justice Campaign Director, Engage NH said, “We are thrilled that Governor Ayotte listened to Granite Staters and vetoed this bill, and that the state legislature sustained that veto. We already have processes and procedures for making sure our schools and libraries are places where kids can read and learn with materials that are age-appropriate for them. This bill was another attempt by far right politicians to create culture wars and drive wedges between parents and our public schools. We are thankful that Governor Ayotte and enough members of the state legislature, like the majority of Granite Staters, saw the bill for what it was.”
John Chrastka, Executive Director, EveryLibrary, said, “This bill was wildly unpopular among voters. If the House seriously considers SB 33 this session, which is substantially the same bill as HB 324, the voters will remember their actions. This is the time to let bad bills die and dial back the politicization of local schools across New Hampshire. Let families make their own decisions about reading and keep the bureaucrats out of the school library.”
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