EveryLibrary Applauds New Hampshire Governor’s Veto of HB324 and Urges the Legislature to Reject SB33

EveryLibrary applauds New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte for her veto of House Bill 324, a bill that would have exposed New Hampshire educators, school librarians, and school board members to criminal prosecution and civil litigation over curriculum and library materials.

HB324 would have opened the door to ideological lawsuits and undermined the long-standing right of New Hampshire communities to make their own decisions about books and classroom materials. Her veto upholds the state’s constitutional values, respects local control, and affirms the rights of families and educators in every Granite State community.

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In her veto message, Governor Ayotte affirmed that “the State of New Hampshire should not engage in the role of addressing questions of literary value and appropriateness” and recognized that current law already provides a meaningful avenue for parents to ensure their children are not exposed to materials they find objectionable. The Governor, a former State Attorney General, added, “I do not believe the State of New Hampshire needs to, nor should it, engage in the role of addressing questions of literary value and appropriateness,” She cited the risks of “subjective standards” and “extensive civil action…from out-of-state groups,” underscoring the practical and constitutional dangers this bill posed.

HB324 was opposed by families, educators, librarians, and legal experts from across the state. Polling commissioned in March by EveryLibrary and MomsRising NH by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center showed a clear majority of voters opposing criminal or civil penalties against school staff over library and curriculum materials. Governor Ayotte listened to her constituents and upheld the constitutional and community-centered values that define New Hampshire.

This veto is a victory for students, teachers, and families across the state, and it is the direct result of extraordinary, sustained advocacy by a broad coalition. The coalition was led with great skill and determination by MomsRising NH. It was joined by organizations including the ACLU of New Hampshire, NEA-NH, AFT-NH, Authors Against Book Bans NH, Granite State Progress, Kent Street Coalition, 603 Equality, Penguin Random House, and many others. Together, these groups helped shape public understanding of the bill’s harmful impact through community organizing, public events, and an unprecedented number of editorials, interviews, and outreach across the state.

“This coalition never wavered in its mission to put students and families first,” said John Chrastka, Executive Director of EveryLibrary. “Our consistent focus on constitutional rights, local decision-making, and honest education gave Governor Ayotte both the clarity and the public support she needed to do the right thing. The volume of coordinated media, organizing, and outreach was unlike anything we’ve seen in a state-level fight like this. It worked and it matters.”

We also commend Governor Ayotte for refusing to escalate the national culture war in education. Instead, she chose to affirm New Hampshire’s tradition of localism and constitutional integrity. She offered a clear path forward: if the legislature truly believes parental rights need reinforcement, it should work narrowly and constructively to improve existing laws, not pursue broad, vague, and punitive proposals.

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However, we must note that SB33, a bill with substantially the same provisions as HB324, is still being held in the House. EveryLibrary strongly urges the New Hampshire Legislature to listen to the Governor’s veto and abandon SB33. “Now is the time to move forward not with essentially the same legislation, but with policies that reflect the shared values of freedom, fairness, and family empowerment,” added Chrastka. “Legislators should work with educators, library professionals, parents, and civil society leaders to strengthen transparency, improve implementation of existing policies, and ensure that all families have the right to make reading and learning decisions for their own children without criminalizing or censoring others.”

We are proud to have stood alongside so many dedicated advocates, educators, and parents to see HB324 vetoed, and we are even prouder to have brought our national resources to support this local action. Projects like statewide polling with the team at MomsRising NH and rapid-response campaigns are only possible because of the generous support of EveryLibrary’s donors. If you believe in protecting free expression, the integrity of libraries, and stopping the criminalization of educators, please help us continue this work in New Hampshire and across the country. Make a donation today at everylibrary.org/donate and stand with us for libraries, readers, and the First Amendment.