KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to New Hampshire

SB578 • 2026

(Second New Title) relative to play-based curriculum and limitations on recess periods for pupils.

(Second New Title) relative to play-based curriculum and limitations on recess periods for pupils.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Victoria Sullivan (R), Kevin Avard (R), Lisa Freeman (R), Howard Pearl (r), Regina Birdsell (R), Raymond Peeples (R), Sharon Carson (R), Keith Murphy (R), Kimberly Rice (R)
Last action
2026-06-01
Official status
SENATE
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

(Second New Title) relative to play-based curriculum and limitations on recess periods for pupils.

(Second New Title) relative to play-based curriculum and limitations on recess periods for pupils.

What This Bill Does

  • (Second New Title) relative to play-based curriculum and limitations on recess periods for pupils.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Amendment #2026-1806h : AF DV 12-319 05/14/2026 HJ 13

Plain English: Amendment #2026-1806h : AF DV 12-319 05/14/2026 HJ 13 1

  • The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.

Bill History

  1. 2026-06-01 H

    Conference Committee Report: Not Filed HJ 14

  2. 2026-05-22 S

    Committee of Conference Meeting: 05/27/2026, 10:30 am, Room 154, GP

  3. 2026-05-21 H

    House Accedes to Senate Request for CofC (Rep. Noble): MA VV 05/21/2026 HJ 14

  4. 2026-05-21 H

    Speaker Appoints: Reps. Noble, Peternel, Freeman, M. Murray 05/21/2026 HJ 14

  5. 2026-05-21 S

    ==CANCELLED== Committee of Conference Meeting: 05/26/2026, 10:30 am, Room 154, GP

  6. 2026-05-20 S

    Sen. Ward Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment; Requests C of C, MA, VV; (In Recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13

  7. 2026-05-20 S

    President Appoints: Senators Ward, Sullivan, Altschiller; (In Recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13

  8. 2026-05-14 H

    Amendment #2026-1806h : AF DV 12-319 05/14/2026 HJ 13

  9. 2026-05-14 H

    FLAM #2026-1945h (NT) (Rep. McDonnell): AA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13

  10. 2026-05-14 H

    Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-1945h: MA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13

  11. 2026-05-06 H

    Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1806h 05/04/2026 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 19 P. 21

  12. 2026-05-06 H

    Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate

  13. 2026-04-29 H

    Executive Session: 05/04/2026 10:30 am GP 232

  14. 2026-03-25 H

    Public Hearing: 03/30/2026 10:20 am GP 232

  15. 2026-02-26 H

    Introduced (in recess of) 02/19/2026 and referred to Education Policy and Administration HJ 5 P. 127

  16. 2026-02-19 S

    Committee Amendment #2026-0509s , AA, VV; 02/19/2026; SJ 4

  17. 2026-02-19 S

    Sen. Fenton Floor Amendment #2026-0846s , AF, VV; 02/19/2026; SJ 4

  18. 2026-02-19 S

    Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-0509s , MA, VV; OT3rdg; 02/19/2026; SJ 4

  19. 2026-02-03 S

    Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-0509s , 02/19/2026, Vote 4-1; SC 6

  20. 2025-12-11 S

    ==CANCELLED== Hearing: 01/13/2026, Map Room, SL, 10:00 am; SC 45

  21. 2025-12-11 S

    Hearing: 01/20/2026, Map Room, SL, 10:15 am; SC 46

  22. 2025-11-25 S

    Introduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Education; SJ 1

Official Summary Text

(Second New Title) relative to play-based curriculum and limitations on recess periods for pupils.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SB 578 - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

02/19/2026 0509s
14May2026... 1945h
2026 SESSION
26-2251
12/09

SENATE BILL
578

AN ACT
relative to play-based curriculum and limitations on recess periods for pupils.

SPONSORS: Sen. Sullivan, Dist 18; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19; Sen. Murphy, Dist 16; Rep. Freeman, Belk. 8; Rep. Peeples, Hills. 14; Rep. Rice, Hills. 38

COMMITTEE: Education

-----------------------------------------------------------------

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill:

I. Modifies play-based curriculum by removing the requirement that educators develop literacy through guided reading.

II. Limits withholding pupils from recess unless a pupil's participation poses a physical safety risk to the pupil or one or more of the pupil's peers.

III. Requires that school staff make all reasonable efforts to minimize a pupil's exclusion from recess to the greatest extent possible.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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.
02/19/2026 0509s
14May2026... 1945h 26-2251
12/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT
relative to play-based curriculum and limitations on recess periods for pupils.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Modification of Play-Based Curriculum. Amend RSA 193-E:2-a, II-a to read as follows:
II-a.
Instruction in support of
standards for
kindergarten [
standards
] shall be engaging and shall foster children's development and learning in all domains including physical, social, cognitive, and language. Educators shall create a learning environment that facilitates high quality, child-directed experiences based upon early childhood best teaching practices and play-based learning that comprise movement, creative expression, exploration, socialization, and music. Educators shall [
develop literacy through guided reading and shall
] provide unstructured time for the discovery of each child's individual talents, abilities, and needs.

2 New Paragraph; Studies; Limitation on Denial of Recess Periods Established. Amend RSA 189:10 by inserting after paragraph III the following new paragraph:
IV. A pupil shall not be denied recess by a member of the school’s staff unless the pupil’s participation poses an immediate threat to the physical safety of the pupil or to the physical safety of one or more of the pupil’s peers. If a pupil’s recess period is denied for safety concerns, school staff shall make all reasonable efforts to resolve such threats and minimize exclusion from recess to the greatest extent possible.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect August 1, 2026.