CONCORD, NH–Today, the New Hampshire Senate voted 16-8 in support of SB 434 as amended, yet another book ban bill that would jeopardize students’ access to books, performances, and other school materials based on the personal politics or beliefs of one person. This bill’s passage comes just months after Governor Ayotte vetoed HB 324, which was sustained in the House by a vote of 183-167.
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.
After the vote, members of the New Hampshire Freedom to Read Coalition released the following statements:
“SB 434 takes power away from our local school districts, which already have policies in place to address challenges to materials in school classrooms and libraries. By leaving decisions about literary value in the hands of a single individual, the bill excludes other voices that deserve a place at the table, like those of teachers, librarians, and other parents and kids from the community. It’s a particularly egregious move in an era where the Legislature continues to neglect its constitutional duty to adequately fund public education, throwing more of the burden on local taxpayers while taking away their say over school policies,” said Jacquelyn Benson, NH Regional Leader, Authors Against Book Bans
“Black Lives Matter New Hampshire stands in firm opposition to Senate Bill 434. This legislation threatens the wellbeing, dignity, and educational experiences of Black and Brown children across our state by creating barriers to inclusive learning environments where all students feel seen and valued. At a time when students of color already face disproportionate discipline and inequitable outcomes, this bill moves us backward instead of addressing the real challenges within our schools,” said Tanisha Johnson, BLM NH Executive Director. “Rather than solving real issues facing New Hampshire schools, such as inequitable discipline, achievement gaps, and lack of culturally relevant supports, SB 434 doubles down on politics that divide us and harm our youngest learners.
The Governor previously vetoed SB 33, recognizing that existing school policies already provide parents with clear and established processes to raise concerns and seek resolution. Those mechanisms remain in place and are sufficient. We do not need new legislation that risks silencing the histories and lived experiences of entire communities.”
Megan Tuttle, President, NEA-New Hampshire added, “SB 434 is yet another attempt to ban books and silence classroom conversations based on the political agenda of a vocal minority—despite clear voter opposition and a gubernatorial veto of similar legislation just last year. Every student deserves the freedom to read widely, think critically, and see themselves reflected in their curriculum. Educators and local communities—not politicians in Concord—are best positioned to make decisions about what students learn and the resources available in their schools. NEA–New Hampshire will continue to stand firmly against efforts to censor classrooms and libraries and remain committed to protecting students’ right to an inclusive, high-quality public education.”
Deb Howes, President of American Federation of Teachers - NH, said,
“The NH Senate let down our public school students once again today! SB 434 turns our school libraries into hot spots of censorship and puts students on the losing end. When books and classroom materials can be removed for being ‘offensive’ to a single person -with no definition at all—we’re not protecting kids, we’re starving them of the diverse ideas that build strong readers and critical thinkers. New Hampshire students deserve open shelves, not political gatekeeping.”
“New Hampshire moms are exhausted and book ban bills that no one is asking for aren’t helping. Families want strong public schools, child care and housing we can afford. We want to raise strong learners and readers. You can’t praise kids for checking out library books and ‘reading for fun’ and then make it easier to pull books off the shelves when one person doesn’t like them. The House should end this when it gets to them so we can finally be done with these book ban attempts and get back to helping kids learn,” said MacKenzie Nicholson, Senior Director, MomsRising in New Hampshire.
Christina Pretorius, Education Justice Campaign Director, Engage NH said, “We are encouraged that lawmakers listened to parents and rejected SB 33. We already have processes and procedures to ensure our schools and libraries are places where kids have the freedom to read and learn with materials that are age-appropriate for them. This was yet another attempt by far right politicians to divide our communities, but we will keep fighting to ensure that our families, students, and teachers are at the center of decision making, not special interest groups pushing radical agendas like this.”
John Chrastka, Executive Director, EveryLibrary, said, “We urge the House to take a sober look at how sweeping and disruptive SB 434 truly is. This legislation goes far beyond school library books and will apply to all materials in a school, including textbooks and health curriculum, as well as artwork, performances, and classroom instruction. By inserting vague standards into state law and shifting constitutional judgment calls onto local school administrators, SB 434 undermines long-standing principles of local control, destabilizes the curriculum, and will make day-to-day governance nearly impossible. The House should reject this expansive mandate and preserve the ability of local schools to govern responsibly, lawfully, and in the best interests of all students.”
Philomena Polefrone, Associate Director of Advocacy, American Booksellers Association, said, “The American Booksellers Association is disappointed by the New Hampshire Senate’s passage of SB 434, a book censorship bill that is no better (and potentially worse) than the previous version Governor Ayotte vetoed for being invasive and extreme. The decision to remove a book should be taken only after careful consideration and with input from impacted stakeholders. Instead, the bill all but guarantees rushed decisions by assigning the question to a superintendent or a ‘designee,’ who can be literally anyone. Parents who disagree with a removal cannot appeal, while those who want to remove a book can appeal to the school board, stacking the deck for book challengers. New Hampshire parents deserve transparency about book removals in their districts, students deserve access to books, and booksellers deserve a state government committed to raising the next generation of readers. SB 434 is anathema to all of these goals.”
“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 will never stop fighting to ensure the Granite State is a place where every child can live free and read,” stated Heidi Carrington Heath, Executive Director, NH Outright.
Aimee Terravechia, Executive Director of 603 Equality, said, “SB 434 is an over-reaching bill that would allow a single individual to uniformly censor materials district-wide. Every Granite Stater deserves the freedom to read, and no one person should be able to limit an entire community’s access to materials. Critically engaging with subject matter is a key component of any education, and sweeping bills like these will do a disservice to educators, to families, and to children.”
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