HB1778

I strongly oppose this bill. This bill puts teachers in a bind. If students ask questions in class about the banned subjects, does the teacher refuse to answer? Or provide an answer and then be accused of "teaching a personal identity ideology"? This bill is too vague and can not be implemented. It will be expensive for tax payers as it is challenged legally. Please visit/volunteer in public school classrooms! I do not know a teacher who is "indoctrinating" their students.

I oppose this bill on several grounds: It further erodes local control. That used to be important to Republicans, but I guess not anymore? It seems to encourage community members to enter into litigation against their school. That is not good for communities, or school budgets. Much better for teachers and students and school boards to work things out for the community. Perhaps the writers of this bill think that Concord can do that better than the local community? I think you are wrong about that. Maybe you also think that litigation can be avoided simply by obeying the law herein proposed? It is not like you have written a bill that is so clear that one automatically knows what the law is. The wording I think could promote strange unintended consequences. You could not, for example, have a Girls Inc. program in the school, or somehow associated with the school, as this is very much a program based on sexual identity. At least as I read the bill, which suggests others might interpret it that way too. I think you could not have a Gay-Straight alliance in a school if this bill were the law of the state. That is damaging to lots of kids, both gay and straight. You mean to make a legal ban on programs that "...prioritizes personal identity characteristics over individual merit." Not sure what that means, but sounds like for example you couldn't keep a boy off a girls' softball team if he was better at the game than some of the girls on the team. I think this is not what you intend. You really want to open this window of civil litigation for folks who just want to make you look silly? I note that this also becomes an unfunded mandate as far as enforcement goes. Another something that Republicans used to get up in arms about. If this is not a case of fixing something that is not broken, I wish you would provide information about the problem you are trying to fix. It's a puzzle.

Exploring who we are is key in education and informs history, anthropology, sociology, biology and so much more. I oppose this bill.

This bill is Ill-conceived! Every student needs to have a well rounded education learning from many cultures and parts of the world. The Government should not be imposing their own biases, bigotry and hatefulness towards certain people that make up America on to Public School students.

We need to progress in society, not be regressive. Learning about race, history, gender identities do not hurt society, they improve it. They only scare people that do not understand, I absolutely oppose this bill. Leave our schools to be free to teach and for students to learn.

This bill effectively prohibits the open discussion or exploration of base components of the human condition, human history, and the involvement of GOP-targeted members of NH communities, as well as critical members of American society and their moments in American history. This bill covers material and concepts that are highly subjective, as well as contested, in definition and would result in ongoing confusion and legal conflict, making it entirely unethical, impractical, and unenforceable. I strongly oppose this bill.

I oppose HB 1778. because it could add to the state bureaucracy at a cost of $100,000 and $500,000 per year at a time when the state is not meeting its constitutional obligation to provide an adequate education. It's misplaced priorities at its worst. Please vote HB 1778 Inexpedient to Legislate.

I oppose HB 1778 because it could add to the state bureaucracy at a cost of $100,000 and $500,000 per year at a time when the state is not meeting its constitutional obligation to provide an adequate education. It's misplaced priorities at its worst. Please vote HB 1778 Inexpedient to Legislate.

I urge you to oppose HB1778. This bill is at direct odds with providing a full and honest education for NH students. It will result in the elimination of important historical and current topics from the curriculum, either by being explicitly banned or by educators reducing their curriculum out of fear of breaking a vague and unclear law. This will result in a loss of knowledge and understanding in NH students. Overall, it will be extremely harmful to our students and educators. Additionally, laws like this have been floated before but have been struck down as unconstitutional.

Dear Honorable Committee Members, I am writing to express my opposition to New Hampshire Bill HB 1778. This bill will exacerbate divisions within communities by limiting open discussions about identity and social justice. This will lead to a less informed and more polarized populace. Student Support Services, programs that support marginalized students, such as those focusing on LGBTQ+ issues or racial equity, may be undermined. This will negatively affect students who rely on these resources for their well-being and academic success. All students deserve to feel welcomed and be fully supported whether one agrees with their personal identity ideology or not. Bill HB 1778 poses significant implications for local communities in New Hampshire. By restricting educational content and limiting discussions on identity. Restrictive policies may affect the economy in NH by deterring new businesses that value diversity. The bill threatens to undermine the values of inclusivity and support that are vital for fostering strong, cohesive communities. I urge you to vote NO on bill HB 1778 and to prioritize legislation that promotes unity rather than division in our schools and communities. Respectfully, Tom Morris

Another bill to make it hard to have any conversation at all about anything at all in our public schools.

Stop trying to tell teachers what to do.

This bill takes a word-salad approach to legislating values and should neither be allowed to advance nor take up any more of the legislature's time. The banning of "personal identity ideology" taken to its logical conclusion would not only prevent the discussion of slavery primarily impacting people from Africa, but also of pregnancy primarily impacting mothers; it would not only prevent discussion of the impact of our recent political turmoil over immigration but also over the targeting of Jews by Hitler, or Christians by Iran. The day New Hampshire starts banning discussion of our identities is the day we should take 'Live Free or Die' off the license plate. Shame on the sponsors of this close-minded bill that even our Puritan forefathers (or should I say "foreparents") would argue against. Vote NO on HB 1778

All people, regardless of age should be able to express their identity, learn accurate history about diverse groups and populations, and learn about different religions across the world and their effect on world history (without being encouraged to believe in any particular faith, of course). Forcing these topics out of our schools is an unnecessary restriction based on fear mongering and exclusion. Please support NH children and oppose this bill.

Identity is not an ideology. It is simply lived experience of self. The way we integrate all parts of ourself including factors like race, gender, ethnicity, etc. Stating that people don't have to participate in respecting the identity of others, or understanding the impact of history (past and current) on individuals based on factors that make up individual identities is not a way to a more informed understanding of one another. This legislation is yet one more attempt to legislate against historically marginalized members of our communities. It has no place in our NH laws or schools. I am against it.

Poor people need to have good and sufficient food.

I oppose this bill, it undermines our youth's exposure to understanding each other and appreciating their differences.

Please OPPOSE HB1778 and help defend diversity and inclusion.

House Bill 1778 is overly broad and risks silencing important classroom discussions about students’ lived experiences by prohibiting the inclusion of “personal identity ideology” in public school instruction and policies, including potentially restricting the use of students’ preferred pronouns. Rather than fostering inclusive educational environments where all students feel recognized and respected, the bill could stigmatize discussions about identity and marginalize students who benefit from supportive, affirming dialogue. By imposing vague restrictions on how schools address identity-related topics, this legislation may undermine educators’ professional judgment, hamper efforts to support student well-being, and create confusion about what constitutes acceptable instruction—without evidence that such a ban is necessary or beneficial for learning outcomes.

This bill is censorship and persecution all rolled up into one. It’s unnecessary, unconstitutional, and a gross overstep. I oppose.

I oppose this bill

I oppose this bill.

I do not support legislating bigoted ideology.

I oppose this bill

"Personal identity ideology" is not a well-defined concept. Does this mean that race, gender, etc. cannot be mentioned?