Advocates call on Governor Kelly Ayotte to veto the bill and preserve academic freedom 

On May 15, 2025, the New Hampshire Senate voted 15-8 to impose a ban on curriculum materials and library books containing content that the government deems “harmful” to students. The passage of House Bill (HB) 324 marks another nationwide attempt at limiting academic freedom, and includes a criminal penalty to prosecute educators and school board members over school library books and curriculum materials. 

Granite Staters are opposed to the bill: in 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. 

Book bans are part of a concerted effort to censor what students learn, but these policies are being soundly rejected by Americans nationwide. North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong, a Republican, vetoed that state’s book ban legislation in April 2025, calling it “a misguided attempt to legislate morality through overreach and censorship.” A similar bill to New Hampshire's HB 324 in Arkansas was struck down by a federal judge, saying that it contained “multiple undefined terms that invite censorship decisions on the basis of content.” 

Parents, school leaders, and civil rights groups gave the following statements:

MacKenzie Nicholson, Senior Director of MomsRising in New Hampshire, said: “MomsRising New Hampshire is deeply concerned by the passage of HB 324 in the Senate. This bill restricts our children’s access to diverse perspectives and important learning experiences. It keeps kids closed off from stories that help them understand themselves and others, and from materials that promote empathy and critical thinking. At the same time, it puts our teachers in an impossible position during an already devastating teacher shortage. Instead of empowering our educators and families, this bill creates fear and uncertainty in the classroom. Moms are calling on Governor Ayotte to veto this harmful legislation and protect our kids’ freedom to read and learn.”

Christina Pretorius, Education Justice Campaign Director, Granite State Progress & Engage NH and mom of three children in public schools, said: “This censorship bill is deeply troubling. Decisions about what my kids can read shouldn’t be made by state politicians. I trust my kids’ teachers, my school leaders, and my school board to provide my kids with age-appropriate materials, and I know that I have the power to have a say in what my kids learn. This is yet another step to undermining the public trust in our teachers and our schools.” 

Deb Howes, President of American Federation of Teachers-NH, said: “All of our public school students have a First Amendment right to access a wide variety of materials in their school library. While not every book is right for every kid, if it is of interest or value to just one student, it belongs in our public schools. Of course, parents can opt their own child out of specific material. Many school districts already have excellent policies that protect everyone’s rights, which were suggested as models to improve this legislation. Unfortunately, the extremist majority are not listening to Granite State voters on this. It is really a sad day to see the extremist majority in the legislature having such little regard for the rights of Granite State citizens or the U.S. Constitution.”

Megan Tuttle, President of NEA-New Hampshire, said: “Every student deserves the freedom to read and to see themselves reflected in the pages of their books. But this book ban infringes upon the right to read for Granite State youth and could criminalize New Hampshire teachers, librarians, and even school board members. While NEA-New Hampshire is discouraged that some anti-public education lawmakers continue to ignore their constituents who overwhelmingly oppose classroom censorship efforts, we remain hopeful that Governor Ayotte will listen to voters. Granite Staters overwhelmingly believe curriculum and classroom material decisions are best handled at the local level by the people who know their communities and schools best. When this book ban bill gets to Ayotte's desk, we urge the Governor to veto HB 324!”

Louise Spencer, Co-Founder of Kent Street Coalition, said: “Governor Ayotte should veto this unworkable bill that opens up our teachers and schools to frivolous lawsuits. Local decision makers can, and should, have the authority to manage their own libraries and academic materials, not state lawmakers. We stand with students, teachers, and our democracy, firmly in support of academic freedom and against this appalling government overreach.” 

Courtney Reed, Policy Advocate at the ACLU of New Hampshire, said, “New Hampshire schools are places of learning, not censorship. School districts already have processes in place to address book challenges, and New Hampshire already has a state law that addresses harmful materials being given to minors. HB 324 specifically gives the State Board of Education–not our local communities–the final say on whether books should be pulled from school library shelves. The end result, if enacted, will be the use of this bill as a tool to scare teachers and librarians out of recommending or even offering books to others that they do not like.”

Zandra Rice Hawkins, Executive Director of Granite State Progress, said: “What public school families really want is fully funded, honest, and inclusive public schools, not attacks on public education and book bans. Parents and families already involved in their student’s education know our school librarians work hard to deliver age-appropriate material that meets our children’s needs and provides opportunity for them to learn and grow. These out of state attacks go against New Hampshire’s live free and read beliefs.”

Linds Jakows, Founder of 603 Equality, said, “Parents and local school boards shouldn’t be strong-armed by politicians into accepting broad censorship of materials that can help all young people better understand themselves and their peers. All of our freedoms to be ourselves and find belonging is at risk when politicians ban books just because they’re uncomfortable. What’s next if politicians can simply ban any content they personally find objectionable?”

For further insight on the impact of HB 324, please read EveryLibrary’s statement urging Governor Ayotte to veto the bill: EveryLibrary Urges Governor Ayotte to Veto HB 324 in New Hampshire.