News + Updates
Updates on our work
The 603 Equality Civic Education Initiative creates a multi-pronged approach to engaging, informing, and empowering voters who care about LGBTQIA issues. An important part of that is by Tracking legislation that touches the LGBTQIA+ community and providing updates and information on how NH residents can effectively engage with proposed legislation at every stage.
It’s time to flush bad legislation
🚽It’s time to flush bad legislation.🚽
Our State House has wasted countless hours on bathroom bans this year. Instead of fixing real issues, legislators are hyper focused on the bathroom usage of their constituents.
Let's see who is spending their time in Concord policing toilets instead of addressing the real issues facing NH residents.
SB434: Bill Hearings & Public Record
SB434 - School Censorship
Official Title: relative to regulation of public school materials.
Bill Sponsors:(Prime) Lang (R), Ruth Ward (R), Carson (R), Pearl (R), Avard (R), Victoria Sullivan (R), Keith Murphy (R), Innis (R), Birdsell (R), Rochefort (R), Moffett (R), Drye (R), Noble (R), Freeman (R)
Bill Hearings & Public Record (this record is a work-in-progress)
Summary: This bill would allow a single person within a school district to challenge items and have them removed for the entire district. Despite mechanisms already being in place for parents to prohibit their child from accessing content and materials that they deem inappropriate, this would empower a single person to remove materials for all students - effectively censoring materials district-wide. It’s important that we trust educators to build inclusive and thoughtful classrooms where students can critically engage with a variety of age-appropriate materials, and not create easy mechanisms for censorship.
SB430: Bill Hearings & Public Record
SB430- Forced Outing in Schools
Official Title: relative to mandatory disclosure by school district employees to parents and legal guardians.
Bill Sponsors:(Prime) Lang (R), Avard (R), Birdsell (R), McGough (R), Ruth Ward (R), Innis (R), Gray (R), Gannon (R), Abbas (R), Victoria Sullivan (R), Keith Murphy (R), Carson (R), Pearl (R), Rochefort (R), Berry (R), Moffett (R)
Bill Hearings & Public Record (this record is a work-in-progress)
Summary: This bill expands upon the "forced outing" or mandatory disclosure of any information about public school students to their parents. Last year's HB10, the "parental bill of rights," created a situation where teachers would be forced to out LGBTQIA students. This bill strengthens that dynamic and inflicts strict penalties against educators who don’t comply. It does provide a very weak provision if educators feel the student is at risk - but risk is incredibly difficult to gauge on matters of identity and home life. This bill would jeopardize the safety of LGBTQIA+ students who do not live in an affirming home, and remove the likelihood that students would be able to build foundational trust with safe adults in their lives in all areas by turning educators into a tool of surveillance. The original bill text can be read by clicking the bill number. The committee hearings & public record of the bill can be watched and reviews at the “Bill Hearings & Public Record” linked above.
HB1788: Bill Hearings & Public Record
HB1788- Eliminating State Contracts with DEI
Official Title: holding state contracts with DEI provisions to be void as a matter of law and establishing a right of action for citizens where public entities or state agencies engage with contracts with DEI provisions.
Bill Sponsors: (Prime) Nalevanko (R), DeRoy (R), Wherry (R), Sweeney (R), Cambrils (R), Berry (R), Ruth Ward (R)
Bill Hearings & Public Record
Summary: HB 1788 is a bill that seeks to immediately terminate all contracts held by state agencies, municipalities, and schools with any organization that references in any of their services. This bill would be in contradiction with federal regulations surrounding Medicare and Medicaid (nursing homes and healthcare providers often are required to have staff take trainings to understand religious differences in care) and school professional development (many PD trainings required by educators must include elements that empower teachers to meet diverse student populations).
LGBTQ Advocates Denounce Passage of Five Nearly Identical “Bathroom Bans” this Month
CONCORD, N.H. - This month, despite an already-bloated legislative docket at the State House and a recently vetoed bathroom ban bill (SB268), the New Hampshire legislature passed five anti-LGBTQ+ bills, with the House of Representatives passing four nearly identical “bathroom ban” bills, and the Senate passing one.
Legislative Updates (02/24/26)
The committee hearings on Friday exec'd that day. For those of you who missed that:
1564 was voted unanimously ITL. We showed up and showed out and it really mattered. This was the bill that sought to remove gender identity from all state statutes.
Two of the bathroom bills were moved to Interim Study with unanimous votes from the committee. 1217 + 1442. 1442 had that extra troubling criminal component.
1299 was recommended OTPA. The amendment designates that for public buildings to adopt this policy, it would also have to offer an individual/gender-neutral bathroom option.
1447 was recommended OTP. Rep MacFarlane did note that he wanted to add an amendment to the bill, and plans to do so on the floor - because he wanted to ensure that public camp sites wouldn’t be subject to the legislation.
There were also updates on bills from the Senate and House sessions
The Senate Approved 16Y-8N, SB434 - another censorship bill.
The Senate voted OTPA 16Y-8N, SB430 - the forced outing bill.
The House voted OTP 184 / 164 on HB1792 - that horrible anti-DEI bill.
Why we oppose HB1345 & HB1132
We have several reasons why we oppose these nearly identical bills.
Why we support CACR25
CACR25 is not a normal bill. It’s a proposed amendment to the NH constitution to establish marriage as a fundamental civil right. With national attacks on marriage equality, it’s essential to enshrine this at the state level.
After the Dobbs decision, we’ve seen how federal law can change the local landscape with devastating consequences.
We are witnessing challenges to Obergefell which ruled marriage equality as the law of the land at the Federal level.
Enshrining existing rights for marriage equality into constitution at the state level will protect other family law-related rights for gay couples.
This pro-active approach has is supported by 80% of NH voters already. Lend your voice!
HB1442: Bill Hearings & Public Record
HB1442 - Anti-Trans Bathroom Ban
Official Title: limiting the use of certain facilities on the basis of sex and redefining the term "gender identity."
Bill Sponsors:(Prime) Layon (R), Barbour (R), Reinfurt (R), Peternel (R), McGrath (R), Popovici-Muller (R), Sabourin dit Choinière (R), Mazur (R), DeVito (R), Love (R), Birdsell (R), Avard (R), Gannon (R)
Summary: HB 1442 is a bathroom ban bill. This bill seeks to restrict access to “private spaces” on the basis of what the bill sponsor defines as “biological sex” like many of the other proposed bathroom and locker room bans this legislative season. One important thing to note about HB1442 is that it would criminally charges trans bathroom users with "willful trespass" for using a bathroom that doesn’t align with the sex designated on their birth certificate. Additionally, the bill sponsor also singled out trans women, and references the SRY gene as a way to scientifically define sex to a binary, despite the vast number of variations to biological sex that exist. This bill is another example of the state legislature attempting to police the movements of trans people in New Hampshire, despite two separate Governors vetoing three similar bills already. The prime sponsor proposed a floor amendment that does nothing to address concerns brought forth in public testimony and committee hearings. Both the original bill text and the amendment can be read by clicking the bill number.
🪦HB1165: Bill Hearings & Public Record
HB1165 Anti-Trans Legislation targeting state IDs
Official Title: relative to gender designation on state-issued identification.
Bill Sponsors: (Prime) King (R), Berry (R), Cambrils (R), Granger (R), Perez (R), Sellers (R), Panek (R)
This bill removes the "X" designation on NH Drivers Licenses and identification cards. It’s a targeted attack on gender diverse individuals in New Hampshire, forcing folks to align their state-issued IDs with the sex assigned at birth and designated on their birth certificates. There are many reasons why individuals may choose an “X” designation on state ID - including because they are genderfluid, non-binary, or intersex. This bill would cause legal chaos if signed into law, forcing some individuals to have their state ID be misaligned with their federal ID, and/or have it completely mischaracterize their identity, biology, and presentation.
HB1217: Bill Hearings & Public Record
HB1217- Anti-Trans Bathroom Ban
Official Title: permitting classification of individuals based on biological sex under certain limited circumstances.
Bill Sponsors:(Prime) Peternel (R), Reinfurt (R), Notter (R), Prudhomme-O'Brien (R), DeVito (R), Thibault (R), Barbour (R), Kelley (R), Moffett (R), DeRoy (R)
HB 1217 is a bathroom ban bill. This bill seeks to restrict access to “multi-user lavatories” on the basis of what the bill sponsor defines as “biological sex” like many of the other proposed bathroom and locker room bans this legislative season. This bill is another example of the state legislature attempting to police the movements of trans people in New Hampshire, despite two separate Governors vetoing three similar bills already. The original bill text can be read by clicking the bill number. The committee hearings & public record of the bill can be watched and reviews at the “Bill Hearings & Public Record” linked above.
HB1132: Bill Hearings & Public Record
HB1132 - School Censorship
Official Title: prohibiting the display of certain flags in public schools and public charter schools and establishing penalties for the display of prohibited flags.
Bill Sponsors: (Prime) Freeman (R), Colcombe (R), Ford (R), Harvey-Bolia (R), Litchfield (R), Miner (R), Thibault (R), Avard (R)
This bill only allows official flags in school buildings, effectively banning pride flags. Also important to note - this bill additionally bans flags that are not state, United States, or school-specific. This means no flags that honor a student’s heritage, celebrate a cherished sports team, or reference someone’s favorite charity. The committee hearings & public record of the bill can be watched and reviews at the “Bill Hearings & Public Record” linked above.
🪦HB1345: Bill Hearings & Public Record
HB1345 In addition to many flag rules, this bill only allows official flags to be flown in schools, effectively banning pride flags. (House Education Policy Committee)
Official Title: requiring schools to establish rules related to the display of flags and designate students at each school to serve as the school's color guard.
Bill Sponsors: (Prime) Thibault (R), Moffett (R), Morse (R), Nadeau (R), Perez (R), Ulery (R), Plante (R), Litchfield (R), Innis (R), Pearl (R)
SB520: Bill Hearings & Public Record
SB520 This is a positive bill that allows for elective breast surgery for minors. (Senate Health and Human Services Committee)
Official Title: relative to breast surgeries for minors.
Bill Sponsors: Sponsors: (Prime) Reardon (D), Fenton (D), Perkins Kwoka (D), Altschiller (D)
HB1356: Bill Hearings & Public Record
HB1356 This bill extends the statute of limitations for gender surgery on a minor to 10 years after majority, causing a chilling effect on accepted medical practice. (House Judiciary Committee)
Official Title: relative to the statute of limitations for bringing a private right of action for violation of the statute prohibiting medical procedures and treatments intended to alter a minor's gender.
Bill Sponsors: (Prime) Wherry (R), Kofalt (R), Layon (R), Mazur (R), Peternel (R), Potenza (R), McGrath (R), Ford (R)
🪦SB268: Bill Hearings & Public Record
SB268 Retained from last year, this bill legalizes discrimination for bathrooms, locker rooms, sports, and prisons. Biological sex is not defined, nor are enforcement mechanisms. (Senate Judiciary Committee)
Official Title: permitting classification of individuals based on biological sex under certain limited circumstances.
Bill Sponsors: (Prime) Avard (R), Lang (R)
🪦SB211: Bill Hearings & Public Record
SB211 Retained from last year, this bill extends discrimination in sports to higher education. Though HB1205 in 2024 largely shut down trans participation in high school sports, efforts continue. (Senate Education Policy Committee)
Official Title: relative to biological sex in student athletics.
Bill Sponsors: (Prime) Avard (R), Lang (R), Innis (R), Ruth Ward (R), Abbas (R), McGough (R), Victoria Sullivan (R), Rochefort (R), Gannon (R), Pearl (R), McConkey (R), Kofalt (R), Notter (R), Pauer (R), Sirois (R)
SB464: Bill Hearings & Public Record
SB464 This bill dilutes a legal definition, preventing civil rights offenses from being recognized as such.
Official Title: relative to civil rights enforcement.
Bill Sponsors: (Prime) Abbas (R), Keith Murphy (R), Pearl (R), Victoria Sullivan (R), Gannon (R), Avard (R), Birdsell (R), Innis (R), Ammon (R)
HB1299: Bill Hearings & Public Record
HB1299- Anti-Trans Bathroom & Sports Ban / Prison Segregation
Official Title: permitting classification of individuals based on biological sex under certain limited circumstances and establishing that certain biological sex distinctions do not qualify as discrimination.
Bill Sponsors: (Prime) Kofalt (R), Alexander (R), DeVito (R), Noble (R), Notter (R), Sheehan (R), Sirois (R), Avard (R), Innis (R), Victoria Sullivan (R), Ruth Ward (R)
Summary: HB 1299 is a multi-faceted bill that limits access for trans folks in public restrooms, in sports settings, and designates that “biological sex” must be the determining factor in prison placement. This bill sponsor defines as “biological sex” like many of the other proposed bathroom and locker room bans this legislative season on a binary, despite the vast number of variations to biological sex that exist. This bill is another example of the state legislature attempting to police the movements of trans people in New Hampshire, despite two separate Governors vetoing three similar bills already. The original bill text can be read by clicking the bill number. The committee hearings & public record of the bill can be watched and reviews at the “Bill Hearings & Public Record” linked above.
HB1792: Bill Hearings & Public Record
HB1792 - School Censorship, Anti-DEI, Anti-LGBTQIA+
Official Title: prohibiting school districts and personnel from the instruction of critical race theory and LGBTQ+ ideologies in schools as well as establishing a private right of action for violations.
Bill Sponsors: (Prime) Belcher (R), Noble (R), Osborne (R), Corcoran (R), Sabourin dit Choinière (R)
Referred to by the sponsor as the “Charlie Act” and named after Charlie Kirk, HB 1792 is designed to restrict classroom instruction and topics to what the sponsor designates as “neutral” and “patriotic.” The sponsor singles out “gender ideology” and “leftist ideology” as well as a variety of pedogeological categories, specific texts and specific authors, to be excluded from public k-12 classrooms. Despite a similar law from last year currently being held up in NH courts and costing the state tens of thousands of dollars, this bill seeks to further restrict topics discussed and acknowledged in classrooms in both incredibly specific and incredibly vague ways. The original bill text can be read by clicking the bill number. The committee hearings & public record of the bill can be watched and reviews at the “Bill Hearings & Public Record” linked above.