Republicans pass parental rights bills while Democrats allege that children will be harmed by these bills

Republicans pass parental rights bills while Democrats allege that children will be harmed by these bills

The House and Senate passed two bills on parental rights on Thursday, moving one to New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte for approval. This marks a significant step for Republicans who have been working for years to increase parents' control over public schools.

The two bills, House Bill 10 and Senate Bill 72, outline parents' rights to request information from teachers about their children. This includes details about the courses their kids are taking, what they are learning, and any conversations students have at school.

Additionally, the House approved another bill, Senate Bill 96, that would require teachers and school staff to respond to parents' questions. If teachers fail to do so, they could face serious penalties. Under this bill, school staff could be investigated by the Department of Education for not complying, and those found to have intentionally ignored the law could face a mandatory one-year suspension of their teaching license.

Republicans argue that the legislation aims to support the idea that parents should guide their children’s upbringing rather than schools.

“Today, we deliver on our promises to Granite Staters by affirming that parental rights are fundamental,” said Rep. Jim Kofalt, a Republican from Wilton.

However, Democrats criticized the bills, claiming they could force teachers to reveal sensitive information about students, such as their sexual orientation or gender identity, to parents against the students’ wishes. They argue this could create an unsafe environment for kids.

Rep. Peter Petrigno, a Democrat from Milford, stated that SB 72 could undermine trust in schools. He expressed concern that children would feel they could no longer talk to trusted adults at school, fearing their information would be reported to parents. “If troubled kids can't talk to their parents or feel safe confiding in teachers, where will they go?” he asked.

Republicans countered that parents are often more trustworthy than teachers in matters concerning their children. Rep. Debra DeSimone, a Republican from Atkinson, implied this belief by referencing a past case involving a former teacher convicted of a serious crime.

Some provisions in HB 10 and SB 72 do allow teachers to withhold information from parents if they have "clear and convincing" evidence that sharing the information could protect the child from abuse. However, Democrats raised concerns about the stringent legal standard required for this exception, arguing it could prevent teachers from acting on suspicions of potential harm. Currently, teachers must report any reasonable suspicion of abuse to the Division for Children, Youth, and Families.

SB 96 is slightly different, allowing teachers to withhold information if it could lead to abuse, abandonment, or neglect, but only if there is clear physical harm or credible threats of serious harm from a parent. The bill specifies that this does not include emotional harm, such as anger or disappointment, that a parent might show upon receiving information about their child.

House Bill 10 passed both the House and Senate on Thursday and will soon be sent to Ayotte. Senate Bill 72 and Senate Bill 96 also passed the House but had not yet received final approval from the Senate as of Thursday afternoon.

Back to blog