Gov. Ayotte vetoes book removal bill, bathroom ban bill, more Republican legislation

Gov. Kelly Ayotte vetoed seven New Hampshire bills Tuesday, July 15, many of which were intended to strengthen parental rights, bucking the conservative wing of her party over hotly contested legislation.

In one action, Ayotte vetoed a bill intended to make it easier for parents and guardians to remove “obscene” books and materials from schools. House Bill 324 would require school boards to create a complaint process for parents and guardians to object to school material deemed harmful to minors. That material could include books, movies, photographs, printed and digital material, plays, and other content.

The governor also vetoed House Bill 148, which would allow businesses and organizations to separate people by biological gender in bathrooms, locker rooms, athletic events, and settings such as jails and mental health facilities.

She vetoed House Bill 358, which would make it easier for parents to apply for religious exemptions to child vaccine requirements in school; House Bill 446, which would require schools to get explicit parental permission before giving students non-academic surveys; and House Bill 667, which would require sex education courses to include “a high quality computer generated animation or ultrasound video that shows the development of the heart, brain, and other vital organs in early fetal development.”

https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/news/state/2025/07/15/gov-ayotte-vetoes-book-removal-bill-bathroom-ban-bill-more/85221773007/