Advocates applaud Governor Ayotte for vetoing book ban bill

Governor Kelly Ayotte vetoed a bill today that was widely criticized by parents, school leaders, students, and free speech advocates as a drastic step backwards that would have banned books and increased censorship in New Hampshire schools. The bill, HB 324, would have imposed a ban on curriculum materials and library books containing content that certain politicians deem “harmful” to students - regardless of the opinion of local experts, and despite procedures already rooted in New Hampshire law to address material that may not be age-appropriate. 

In addition to the outpouring of opposition to a book ban, polling also showed that the majority of Granite Staters opposed the bill: according to an April 2025 Granite State Poll by the University of New Hampshire, 56% of voters believe that local decision makers, like school boards, should set library and curriculum policies, not state politicians. Thousands of people opposed HB 324 during the public hearings in the spring, and thousands more have signed petitions from the ACLU of New Hampshire, Black Lives Matter NH, and Moms Rising. 

In June, dozens of people gathered in front of Governor Ayotte’s office doors to read from books that have been historically challenged or banned across the country, highlighting the real impact of censorship and the chilling effect HB 324 could have on inclusive education. They called on Governor Ayotte to veto the bill, which would undermine academic freedom and disproportionately harm LGBTQ+ students, students of color, and all students who rely on honest, representative programming and access to diverse stories. View and download images from the event here.

Parents, school leaders, free speech rights advocates, and civil rights groups issued the following statements:

MacKenzie Nicholson, Senior Director at MomsRising New Hampshire, said, “We applaud Governor Ayotte for vetoing HB 324 and standing with New Hampshire families, educators, and the fundamental freedom to read. Moms across the Granite State have been clear: we do not want book bans in our schools. We want our children to have access to diverse stories that build empathy, teach honest history, and help them understand the world around them. With this veto, the Governor upheld the values of freedom and trust that Granite Staters hold dear, and protected every child’s right to learn and grow without censorship.”

Christina Pretorius, Education Justice Campaign Director at Engage NH, said, “We are thrilled that Governor Ayotte listened to Granite Staters and vetoed this bill. 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, like the majority of Granite Staters, saw the bill for what it was.”

Amanda Azad, Policy Director at the ACLU of New Hampshire, said, “Students, parents, and educators can breathe a sigh of relief that this deeply flawed attempt to ban books and create school censorship in New Hampshire was vetoed today by Governor Ayotte. The ability to engage in discourse, hear diverse perspectives, and pursue knowledge depends on access to books. To live freely is to read freely, and we will continue to fight against any future effort that undermines our freedom to read.”

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.”

Megan Tuttle, President of NEA-New Hampshire, said, “Every student deserves to see themselves reflected in the pages of their books. NEA-New Hampshire applauds Governor Ayotte for standing up for the freedom to read in New Hampshire. We hope this book ban bill veto represents a changing tide at the State House and call on lawmakers to listen to Granite Staters who overwhelmingly oppose classroom censorship efforts.”

Linds Jakows, Founder of 603 Equality, said, “All young people, including LGBTQ young people, benefit from having access to a wide range of school library materials. We are thankful that Governor Ayotte would choose to defend the basic freedom to read, rather than side with politicians who instigate fear of what they do not understand.”

Tanisha Johnson, Executive Director of BLM NH, said, “We commend Governor Ayotte for vetoing HB 324. This is a necessary stand against censorship and a commitment to truth in education. Black, Brown, LGBTQ+, and marginalized voices belong in our classrooms and this veto affirms that. We will continue fighting to ensure every student has access to stories that reflect their identities, histories, and power. Thank you for choosing truth.”

Jacquelyn Benson, NH regional leader for Authors Against Book Bans, said, “HB 324 was a transparent attempt to make it easier for outside interest groups or individual activist parents to dictate what all our children are allowed to read. New Hampshire spoke clearly in its overwhelming opposition to this bill—we trust our educators and our local elected officials to do what's right for our kids. With this veto, Gov. Ayotte stands with all Granite Staters working to protect our right to live free and read.”

John Chrastka, Executive Director, EveryLibrary, said, “The Governor has made a bold decision to veto a bill that would override local control of schools, diminish parents' rights, and bring unconstitutional censorship to New Hampshire schools. She joins other governors who want to see smart solutions to building better schools, not the criminalization of reading and teaching. We now call on the legislature to sustain this Veto and come back next session to write a reasonable bill that preserves the right to read while helping local schools regulate themselves in a constitutional way.”

Louise Spencer, Co-Founder, Kent Street Coalition, said,  “President Dwight D. Eisenhower said ‘Don't be afraid to go into your library and read every book.’ Diverse ideas, opinions and stories should never be viewed with fear, but instead embraced as an opportunity to grow and learn. Today we thank Governor Ayotte  for vetoing  HB 324, a bill that prioritized fear over open inquiry, and for affirming that the Granite State supports the fundamental freedom to read.”