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HB 1132 - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
11Mar2026... 0767h
2026 SESSION
26-2315
12/08
HOUSE BILL
1132
AN ACT
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.
SPONSORS: Rep. Freeman, Belk. 8; Rep. Bean, Belk. 6; Rep. Colcombe, Hills. 30; Rep. Ford, Rock. 3; Rep. Harvey-Bolia, Belk. 3; Rep. Litchfield, Rock. 32; Rep. L. Miner, Rock. 7; Rep. Thibault, Merr. 25; Sen. Avard, Dist 12
COMMITTEE: Education Policy and Administration
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill prohibits the display of certain flags and banners in public schools and public charter schools and establishes penalties for the display of prohibited flags and banners. This bill also authorizes the state board of education to issue monetary penalties for a third or subsequent violation of the act.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in
bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [
in brackets and struckthrough.
]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
11Mar2026... 0767h 26-2315
12/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT
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.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Display of Flags and Banners Prohibited. Amend RSA 189 by inserting after section 17-b the following new section:
189:17-c Display of Flags and Banners Prohibited. All public schools and public charter schools shall be prohibited from displaying any flag or banner inside or outside of school buildings other than the flag of the United States of America, the New Hampshire state flag, and the POW/MIA flag.
I. Flags and banners exempt from this section shall include:
(a) Flags and banners used for instruction in foreign languages, world geography, math, language arts, and United States history classes.
(b) Flags and banners officially representing the school, including those used at school sponsored sports and events;
(c) Flags representing a branch of the United States military.
(d) An official city or town flag of a city or town located in the state of New Hampshire.
II. Any violation of this section shall result in a formal complaint being issued to the school superintendent, who within 5 days of receipt of the complaint shall determine the complaint's validity. If the superintendent finds the complaint constitutes a violation of this section, the superintendent shall order the immediate removal of the prohibited flag from school premises, unless such flag was already removed, as well as issue the following penalties:
(a) For a first violation of this section, a warning shall be issued to the perpetrator of the offense.
(b) For a second violation of this section, the superintendent and local school board or governing body of a public charter school shall determine and issue a disciplinary action against the perpetrator of the offense.
(c) For a third violation and any additional violation of this section, the superintendent shall report the violation to the state board of education, which shall have the authority to issue penalties in accordance with 21-N:11, VI.
2 New Paragraph; State Board of Education; Duties of the Board; Penalties. Amend RSA 21-N:11 by inserting after paragraph V the following new paragraph:
VI. Issue monetary penalties relative to violations of 189:17-c, II(c), not to exceed $1,000 per violation.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect September 1, 2026.