EveryLibrary Urges Governor Ayotte to Veto HB 324 in New Hampshire

The passage of HB 324 by the New Hampshire state Senate is a deeply disappointing moment for everyone who values the constitutional rights of students, the professional judgment of educators and librarians, and the long-standing tradition of local control in Granite State schools. EveryLibrary strongly urges Governor Kelly Ayotte to veto HB 324 and stand with the overwhelming majority of New Hampshire voters who oppose this type of government overreach.

This marks the third legislative session in which New Hampshire lawmakers have proposed extreme "culture war" bills that threaten sound education policy. HB 324, in particular, fails to support students, ignores the voices of parents, and disrespects the constitutional rights of our communities.

Send a message to the Governor to veto HB324: https://action.everylibrary.org/veto_hb324

Polling released in April 2025 by EveryLibrary and MomsRising NH indicates that voters across the political spectrum, especially independents and moderates, reject the criminalization of educators and librarians. They believe these decisions should remain in the hands of local communities, not state-level political appointees. The criminal penalties included in HB 324 are unnecessary, undermining New Hampshire’s educational values and posing a threat to the recruitment and retention of qualified teachers.

Similar bills in other states have been vetoed by conservative governors who recognized their legal and social implications. In North Dakota and Idaho, governors vetoed bills like HB 324 due to concerns about constitutional implications, the chilling effect on public institutions, and potential long-term harm to their communities. We commend those governors for their courage and urge Governor Ayotte to take a similar stand.

Where these kinds of bills have not been vetoed, as seen most recently in the Arkansas lawsuit over SB81/PA372, they have faced immediate and costly legal challenges. In Arkansas, key provisions of a book censorship law were blocked in federal court on First Amendment grounds. New Hampshire should not follow that path.

If Governor Ayotte vetoes HB 324, we are committed to helping our partners in the library, civil liberties, and civil society sectors work with the legislature on a new bill in the latter half of the session. New Hampshire parents, students, and educators deserve legislation that respects the constitutional right to read and reaffirms New Hampshire’s proud tradition of local control over schools.

Lastly, while SB 33 is currently on hold in the House, it is critical to emphasize that it is not a viable alternative to HB 324. It suffers from many of the same issues and does not represent a consensus-based or constitutionally sound approach. If this administration is serious about protecting children, empowering families, and supporting educators, it must revisit its options.

Governor Ayotte has the opportunity to uphold the principles that have long guided New Hampshire: freedom, fairness, and local control. We urge her to veto HB 324 and pave the way for a better bill.

News Stories about HB324

New Hampshire Voters Reject HB324: A Call for Local Control, Not Criminalization – April 9, 2025 – MomsRising NH and EveryLibrary: https://www.everylibrary.org/nh_voters_reject_hb324_poll.  

“Children deserve the freedom to read. Reject NH House Bill 273” by Katie Adams, Exeter, New Hampshire
https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/opinion/columns/2025/02/14/commentary-children-deserve-the-freedom-to-read-reject-hb-273/78543734007/ 

“Empower educators, don't criminalize them” by MacKenzie Nicholson, senior director of MomsRising NH, and John Chrastka, executive director, EveryLibrary
https://www.unionleader.com/opinion/op-eds/mackenzie-nicholson-john-chrastka-empower-educators-dont-criminalize-them/article_ff3fdbe3-dea1-4777-b881-387bc85664b6.html  

“To read freely is to live freely, reject book bans” by Amanda Azad is policy director at the ACLU of New Hampshire
https://www.unionleader.com/opinion/op-eds/amanda-azad-to-read-freely-is-to-live-freely-reject-book-bans/article_98fbd50e-bf7e-4f87-9f41-32bf721459b3.html 

"Right to read is fundamental, local control of libraries works" by Michael Herrmann, owner of Gibson’s Bookstore in Concord
https://www.unionleader.com/opinion/op-eds/michael-herrmann-right-to-read-is-fundamental-local-control-of-libraries-works/article_bfd25c12-1edb-468b-ba3b-c2338f5cfb83.html  

Write-up of the AABB Press Conference on 5/13/25 in Nashua Ink
https://nashua.inklink.news/jodi-picoult-and-other-new-hampshire-authors-speak-out-against-nh-book-ban-bills/