Education (Libraries)

This bill requires all New Hampshire public school boards and public library boards to adopt policies for curating library materials by July 1, 2026. The policies must prohibit censorship based on disagreement with viewpoints or content being offensive (while allowing age-appropriate restrictions), and ensure diverse perspectives in collections. It establishes a formal review process for challenged materials, requiring libraries to maintain access to materials during review and creating committees with specific membership requirements to evaluate removal requests. The bill also provides legal protections for librarians and staff who follow these policies, including immunity from liability and the ability to seek damages for harassment. The bill has no fiscal impact as it's expected to be implemented within existing staffing resources.

HB 1256 removes a law that allowed New Hampshire's state librarian to award scholarships to students enrolled in graduate library programs accredited by the American Library Association. The bill repeals RSA 201-A:10, VII, ending the state librarian's authority to fund these scholarships. This change directly affects students seeking advanced degrees in library science at accredited institutions. The policy shift eliminates an existing state-funded support mechanism for library school students without creating new programs or requirements.