CACR 17 New Hampshire House · 2024 Regular Session

relating to the rights of parents. Providing that parents shall have a fundamental right to direct the upbringing, education, and care of their minor children.

This bill proposes adding a new article to the state constitution that grants parents a fundamental right and responsibility to direct the upbringing, education, and care of their minor children. It establishes that the state or local governments cannot interfere with these parental rights unless they prove a compelling interest of the highest order that cannot be served any other way. The measure includes a specific exception stating that this right does not apply to parental actions that would end a child's life or cause physical harm to them. Rather than passing into law directly, the bill sets up a process to put this constitutional amendment to a vote of the qualified voters in November 2024.
Bill status died 2 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2023
Committee Review
Mar 2024
House Failed
Mar 2024
Governor
Introduced Dec 1, 2023 Last action Oct 10, 2024
Floor votes · House Mar 7, 2024

How they voted

172–181
Failed · 34 other
Total votes 387
Mar 7, 2024
D Democratic191
169 Yea 1 Nay 21
88% Yea
I Independent2
1 Nay 1
50% Nay
R Republican194
3 Yea 179 Nay 12
92% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
11
Key actions
2
Committee
3
Mar 7, 2024
Vote failed
House Vote: fail (172-181-34)
house
Mar 7, 2024
Lower · Passed
Ought to Pass: MF DV 180-183 Lacking Necessary Three-Fifths Vote 03/07/2024 HJ 7 P. 30
lower
Feb 23, 2024
Lower · Passed
Minority Committee Report: Ought to Pass
lower
Feb 23, 2024
Committee
Majority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/20/2024 (Vote 10-6; RC) HC 9 P. 17
lower
Dec 1, 2023
Introduced
Introduced 01/03/2024 and referred to Children and Family Law
lower
1 primary · 9 co-sponsors

Sponsors