Warning: Bill numbers and names are based on text-to-speech transcript which may have errors due to transcription issues or ad hoc/incomplete language use by committee.
(New Title) prohibiting the display of certain flags and banners in public schools and public charter schools and establishing penalties for the display of prohibited flags and banners.
Representative Hill introduced the committee report on HB1332, noting the unanimous 10-0 recommendation. The bill received enthusiastic support from veterans groups and Gold Star families. An amendment replaced the controversial Honor and Remember flag with the federally recognized Gold Star flag. The amendment allows the Governor to order the Gold Star flag to fly on Statehouse grounds and at the New Hampshire Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen to commemorate Gold Star Families Day on the last Sunday in September. The bill restricts flags on Statehouse grounds to those federally recognized by Congress, executive order, or federal agency, including the U.S. flag, state flags, POW/MIA flag, military branch flags, and the Gold Star flag. He highlighted a size limitation for the Gold Star flag (3x5 feet), which would require a separate flagpole not visible from the ground, and noted complications with limited flagpoles, especially during half-mast flying.
HB1332
Support00:09:09.130 - 9:08:00 AM
Kevin Grady provided historical context on previous bills attempting to fly the Honor and Remember flag over the Statehouse, which the veterans opposed because it was not the official symbol of fallen service members and resembled the North Vietnamese flag, offending Vietnam veterans. He acknowledged the good work of Honor and Remember for families but supported shifting focus to Gold Star families. The current amendment removes the Honor and Remember flag, making the bill about Gold Star Families Day. The Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen already flies the Honor and Remember flag daily, but the committee unanimously supports this bill as a compromise to honor families without promoting a commercial flag. Representative Wade amended the bill after consulting the committee, and they voted to support it.
HB1132
Oppose00:14:11.747 - 9:13:02 AM
Representative Selig opposed HB1132, arguing it mandates censorship of symbolic speech in public schools by limiting displays to only the U.S. flag, New Hampshire flag, and a few exceptions, banning others with penalties up to $1000 per offense. This violates First Amendment principles by allowing content-based restrictions on expression that conveys values, identity, history, and community. Flags represent heritage and belonging for students; prohibiting them chills free speech and turns educators into monitors. Examples include banning birthday banners, sports team flags, St. Patrick's Day banners, or educational displays like Confederate or swastika flags in history lessons. Local school boards, being nonpartisan, should decide on displays based on community needs, not state mandates with harsh penalties that could apply to personal items like flags on vehicles in school parking lots. The bill promotes suppression over dialogue and education, undermining New Hampshire's liberty tradition.
HB1132
Oppose00:25:50.462 - 9:24:41 AM
Deborah Howes opposed the bill, stating it interferes with creating welcoming school communities where flags symbolize belonging and safety for students. Schools are communities, not just instructional spaces; restricting flags sends a message that some students do not count. She shared a story from her 18 years teaching in Nashua, where annual spring celebrations of learning featured projects on immigration and family traditions, decorated with flags from families' countries of origin to foster inclusion. These displays remained up to show all students belong, supported by the local school board for family engagement. The bill limits educational uses of symbols, intrudes on local decision-making, and invites arbitrary, complaint-driven enforcement leading to lawsuits. Trust local school boards to make policies that help students learn and thrive, focusing on education rather than state control.
HB1132
Oppose00:34:03.296 - 9:32:54 AM
The speaker explains the normal procedures for addressing objections to school decorations or curriculum, starting with communication with the teacher and escalating to the principal and administration if needed. She emphasizes that issues can be resolved locally without statewide mandates. The bill disregards good educational practices that foster safe and welcoming communities for students and families, which are essential for student success and family engagement.
HB1132
Oppose00:36:58.296 - 9:35:49 AM
Testifying against the bill, Daniel Smith shares a poem by Mike, an educator from Manchester, NH, titled 'Why I Hang a Pride Flag in My Classroom.' The poem addresses student discomfort with the pride flag, contrasts it with erasure of identities, and highlights the role of the flag in creating safe spaces, building bridges, and nurturing understanding. It critiques attempts to impose rigid views that harm queer students, portraying the flag as a symbol of equality, empowerment, and sanctuary in the classroom.
HB1132
Oppose00:40:52.721 - 9:39:43 AM
Amanda Azad criticizes the bill for its vagueness and breadth, banning all flags and banners except limited ones like U.S., state, and military flags, with narrow exceptions for certain classes. She questions definitions of 'flag' and 'banner,' noting it could prohibit pride stickers, posters, sports celebrations, college flags, awareness banners, and student artwork. The bill imposes severe penalties and violates free speech rights, leading to censored, dystopian schools that limit education, student expression, and club activities. She urges inexpedient to legislate (ITL).
HB1132
Support00:48:46.267 - 9:47:37 AM
Beth Scare supports HB 1132 to ban pride and trans flags from schools. She describes a large pride progress flag at Nashua High School North, including trans symbols, which she claims promotes harmful ideas about gender. She mentions a 2023 display of numerous flags representing various sexual and gender identities orchestrated by a teacher, encouraging students to identify with extreme labels. She also notes a large pride flag in a Hudson elementary school stairwell, hidden from parents, and argues schools should not display such flags while excluding religious ones, aiming to separate children from traditional values.
HB1132
Support00:51:40.867 - 9:50:31 AM
Julie Smith supports the bill, referencing litigation over free speech in Nashua schools and city censorship. She argues the bill does not target specific groups but promotes neutrality by banning all non-essential flags, countering claims of sterility by stating schools should focus on core education like reading, writing, math, and logic, not indoctrination. She poses a question about whether flags act as platforms or publishers, advocating a return to basics as a taxpayer.
HB1132
Oppose00:54:28.432 - 9:53:19 AM
Amy Teravecchia opposes HB 1132, arguing it creates enforced neutrality that favors one viewpoint, censoring diverse ideas essential for critical thinking in classrooms. Flags represent heritage, experiences, celebrations, achievements, and awareness, benefiting students beyond lessons. She connects it to broader censorship efforts, stating public education should cultivate thoughtful contributors to society, not compliance, and urges ITL.
HB1132
Oppose00:57:01.212 - 9:55:52 AM
Scott Files testified about a teacher in his high school who displayed a pride flag as a symbol of being a safe space and resource for students in need, without it being politically motivated. He argued that preventing teachers from displaying such nonverbal representations of openness would be harmful to all students.
HB1132
Oppose00:58:07.172 - 9:56:58 AM
Brian Hawkins expressed concerns about the bill's approach to prohibiting flags except in specific classes, which could interfere with students' artistic expression. He also highlighted issues with the bill's provisions on disciplinary actions, which intrude on local agreements and procedures. During questioning, he discussed ambiguities in what constitutes a flag, potential impacts on personal displays like breast cancer awareness items, community banners for injured students, and personal LGBTQ flags. He addressed hate speech determination as varying by law and local decisions, emphasizing the need for even enforcement without subjective interpretation.
HB1132
Oppose01:07:19.946 - 10:06:10 AM
Louise Spencer opposed the bill, noting it could be interpreted as banning pride flags and lead to uneven enforcement through complaints, resulting in discrimination and lawsuits. As a taxpayer, she found it disturbing to spend school dollars on such litigation and criticized the legislature for focusing on this instead of real issues facing schools.
HB1115
Support01:09:30.000 - 10:08:21 AM
Representative McFarland introduced the bill as a clarifying measure defining a New Hampshire citizen as a U.S. citizen domiciled in the state, based on constitutional doctrine. He explained it ensures consistency across statutes, prevents confusion in agencies and courts, and does not alter rights or voting eligibility. He addressed minority concerns, affirming the domicile test under law, and clarified it does not create separate state citizenship. He also noted an amendment to RSA 110-B:81 to preserve eligibility for the New Hampshire Medal of Honor, confirmed with the Adjutant General's office. He recommended ought to pass.
HB1705
Support01:14:00.000 - 10:12:51 AM
Representative Selig introduced the bill to provide access to an Employee Assistance Program for volunteer first responders in small communities, addressing repeated trauma, PTSD, and mental health challenges like anxiety and depression. Drawing from her work with the New Hampshire Theater Project's programs on first responders, she highlighted limited access to care in rural areas and the cost-effectiveness compared to hiring paid staff. The bill targets communities with five or fewer full-time paid responders, with fiscal note removed and effective date 2027 for budget process. She noted bipartisan support and handed out testimony from Representative Damon emphasizing support for volunteers in rural areas like Sullivan County.
HB1705
Information Only01:21:55.605 - 10:20:46 AM
Representative Dry began her testimony but the transcript cuts off after greetings.
HB1705
Support01:22:32.458 - 10:21:23 AM
Representative Dry, a volunteer first responder from Sullivan District 7 (Plainfield, Cornish, Newport, Unity, Charlestown), shares a personal story of a volunteer EMT firefighter who faced mental health issues but couldn't access the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) because he wasn't a state or town employee. She describes how he had to seek help independently and pay for it himself. As a co-sponsor, she supports the bill, noting her rescue squad's unanimous request to overturn interim study. She highlights how the amendment creates a fund for donations, grants, and gifts to channel goodwill and provide access to EAP for those in need without high costs.
HB1705
Support01:24:34.418 - 10:23:25 AM
The speaker expresses enthusiastic support for HB 1705, emphasizing the compassionate need for mental health support for small-town and volunteer emergency responders who face traumatic situations. She shares a personal experience of a house fire two years ago where her family survived miraculously thanks to first responders. She also references a recent fatal house fire in Troy, NH, where responders from multiple towns aided, but some lack EAP access. She argues the low cost has immeasurable impact and is worth it.
HB1705
Support01:27:52.055 - 10:26:43 AM
Representative Stringham supports HB 1705, highlighting the bill's structure using state-staffed EAP, which is low-risk financially. As an employer with experience in EAPs, he notes it can handle potential users (up to 6,000) without heavy upfront appropriation, adjustable via budget process. He contrasts it with external programs that might require major funding for light use. With existing staff (7 full-time, one open), it aligns policy and finance well.
HB1705
Information Only01:30:05.225 - 10:28:56 AM
John Williams and Michael Lawless from DHHS do not take a position on HB 1705 but acknowledge its merit in extending EAP to first responders in small municipalities (5 or fewer). They request a friendly amendment with contingency language: implementation only when sufficiently funded, to protect current budget and missions. They note House concerns leading to interim study but appreciate efforts to advance it.
HB1426 slight amendment to wording
Support01:32:27.533 - 10:31:18 AM
Representative Kesselring introduces HB 1426, aimed at ensuring DES programs have qualified, certified professionals for decisions impacting environment and economy. He notes issues with DES information not aligning with federal regulations, affecting contractors. It's not an unfunded mandate; worked with DES on language. Agrees to their slight amendment proposed after House hearing.
HB1426 slight amendment to wording
Support01:34:38.973 - 10:33:29 AM
Michael Mazalian, with 49 years in asbestos abatement, supports certification to avoid non-certified DES staff overriding certified contractors. He details examples: a Manchester school project where DES rejected a certified designer's AHERA-compliant plan multiple times, adding $15,000 cost and shifting liability to state. Another case: miscategorization of non-friable asbestos as friable, halting low-income housing project. Stresses need for DES staff to follow federal (EPA, OSHA) rules without state twists, proper certification via EPA Model Accreditation Plan, and avoiding conflicts like compositing samples.
HB1426 slight amendment to wording
Information Only01:43:04.055 - 10:41:55 AM
Mike Fitzgerald states DES does not oppose HB 1426, which affects numerous programs requiring certified inspectors/surveyors across departments. Appreciates sponsor's collaboration on language, including one added sentence. Concerns: potential conflicts (e.g., staff certifying themselves), financing (grants may not cover, certified staff higher salary). Notes in referenced case, dispute is over certified inspector's report. Rules compatible with federal; more stringent where applicable. Process includes reviews, meetings, but regulatory determinations not appealable like permits.
HB1109 2026-1299s
Information Only01:50:30.947 - 10:49:21 AM
Grant Bossie explains the non-germane amendment at DOC's request to clarify certain positions within corrections facilities as Group 2 retirement, aiding DAS system harmonization. Notes drafting error making it replace-all (apologizes to sponsor); meant as addition. DAS requests one more position; suggests redrafting for next week.
HB1109 2026-1299s
Support01:51:31.787 - 10:50:22 AM
Jessica testifies to reaffirm Group 2 status for existing DOC positions mislabeled as Group 1 during DOP audit, despite employees contributing to Group 2. Positions (nurses, counselors, librarians, chaplains, teachers, coordinators) meet RSA criteria: work in facilities with daily prisoner contact, security responsibility, PSTC Academy training, qualifications. Aims to correct for retirement benefits without adding new contributors or fiscal impact.
Unclear 1302
Support01:56:24.456 - 10:55:15 AM
Representative Dry introduced the amendment to designate the third Friday after Labor Day as New Hampshire Day at the Big E, requiring the governor to issue an annual proclamation. She explained that the Big E is the fourth largest fair on the continent, serving as a regional fair for 4-H and FFA winners, attracting over 1.5 million visitors annually. The New Hampshire building at the Big E is the only state-owned building outside NH borders, and she chairs the trustees. The amendment recognizes the Big E's contributions to NH agriculture, highlighting economic impacts and participation in events like beef competitions, career development, and public speaking. She addressed concerns from the House about adding to the proclamation list, noting that existing proclamations are actively observed. The amendment fits the agricultural bill due to ties with student agriculture groups.
Unclear 1302
Support02:02:00.029 - 11:00:51 AM
Commissioner Jasper supported the amendment, noting that New Hampshire Day at the Big E occurs annually and the NH building is under the sole authority of his department. He assured that the proclamation would not be forgotten and would be actively promoted to the governor. The event is crucial for showcasing NH products, with vendors relying on it as their biggest sales period for NH-made goods, emphasizing its agricultural lean. He mentioned no opposition from the Agriculture in the Classroom Committee and hoped for support despite concerns with the underlying bill.