Both sides lobby Ayotte over parental rights, trans bills
Conservative and liberal organizations lobbied Gov. Kelly Ayotte for and against legislation promoting parental rights, which critics unfairly contend target transgender residents.
Last week, the Legislature completed action on a series of bills that conservative groups have dubbed a 'landmark parental rights package.'
The coalition includes RebuildNH, Young Americans for Liberty, Citizens Alliance of New Hampshire, the New Hampshire Liberty Alliance and Health Freedom N.H.
'These bills collectively ensure that parents — not government institutions — retain the primary role in guiding their children's development,' said Melissa Blasek, executive director of RebuildNH. 'This package embodies New Hampshire's commitment to freedom and personal responsibility. It's time to lead the nation once again.'
The Parental Rights Package includes the following bills:
• Parental rights: HB10 and SB72 would establish a Parental Bill of Rights, codifying parents' fundamental rights to make decisions regarding the care, custody, education and medical treatment of their children.
• Risk surveys: HB446 requires parental notice and opt-in consent for non-academic surveys administered in public schools.
• Child's library records: HB273 would grant parents access to their child's records, which supports said would ensure transparency.
• Mandating student info disclosure: SB 96 would require school district employees to disclose material information regarding a student's mental, emotional or physical health to parents.
• Ban mask wearing: HB 361 would outlaw mandatory mask policies in schools, reinforcing the right of parents to make medical decisions for their children.
• Obscenity definition in schools: HB324 would prohibit obscene or harmful sexual materials in schools, protecting children from age-inappropriate content.
'The Parental Rights Package is about trust — trusting parents to know what's best for their children,' said Dan Gray, executive director of Citizens Alliance of New Hampshire. 'Governor Ayotte has an opportunity to affirm the rights of every New Hampshire family and to send a clear message that our state values liberty and family sovereignty.'
Ayotte urged to veto 4 bills
A liberal bloc of organizations called upon Ayotte to veto four bills, starting with the parental rights bill they charge would leave students dealing with gender identity issues without a 'trusted adult' to confide in.
'The majority of New Hampshire politicians chose to insert themselves in conversations between young people, their parents, and doctors, by passing a ban on medically necessary health care that has vastly improved the well-being of transgender young people,' said Linds Jakow, founder of 603 Equality.
'Politicians likewise chose to insert themselves in conversations between young people, their parents, and teachers, by passing bills that would require teachers to reveal a student's gender or sexuality, rather than suggest a conversation between the parent and their student. We control our bodies and lives. Gov. Kelly Ayotte must swiftly veto this legislation, which has no place in any state that claims to value individual freedom.'
These groups include 603 Equality, Planned Parenthood of New Hampshire Action Fund, N.H. Outright, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD Law) and the American Civil Liberties of New Hampshire.
Other bills these advocates opposed included:
• Gender-affirming care: HB 712 would ban all elective surgeries for transgender patients under 18 years old, even with parental consent and after consultations with medical professionals. On Thursday, the House will decide whether to concur with changes made to this bill along with HB 377 that restricts access for minors to puberty blockers.
• Allow segregation of spaces: HB 148 would allow government agencies and private businesses to restrict access to restrooms, sports teams and prisons to members of the same biological sex. Gov. Chris Sununu vetoed an identical bill (HB 396) in 2024.
'It is clear that these bills would cause harm, permit discrimination, and heighten cruelty and harassment in our communities — and they have no place in New Hampshire,' said Courtney Reed, ACLU-N.H's policy advocate.
'Every Granite Stater deserves the freedom to control their bodies and to seek the health care they need free from government intrusion — period. These merciless, cruel, and endless legislative attacks against LGBTQ+ Granite Staters need to end.'
What's Next: Most of these bills that both sides are working on have passed both branches of the Legislature and are on the way to Ayotte's desk.
Prospects: Ayotte has expressed support for the parental rights bills and publicly she hasn't raised an objection to any of the other measures.
klandrigan@unionleader.com
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