NH Bill To Force Schools To Call Home About Transgender Children Fails

CONCORD, NH — A bill that would have required school officials to disclose to inquiring parents that their child is using a different name or being referred to as being a different gender was defeated Thursday in the New Hampshire House.

The bill passed the GOP-dominated Senate in March. Republicans hold a razor-thin majority in the 400-member House, but more Democrats were present for Thursday’s vote.

The bill's text outlines that it was designed "to establish a consistent mechanism for parents to be notified of information relating to the health, well-being, and educational progress of their minor children while those children are in the custody and control of the public schools."

While supporters of the bill say that it would strengthen family relationships, opponents argue that it exposes LGBTQ+ students to the risk of abuse at home and can cause serious damage to their mental health.

“This rush to inform will deny adolescents the time needed for thoughtfulness and care that is sometimes needed for a teen and their family to approach this sensitive issue,” Rep. Mel Myler, a Democrat from Hopkinton, wrote in the House calendar ahead of the vote.

Democrats passed several “poison pill” amendments to weaken the bill before it was defeated 195-190 on a vote to “indefinitely postpone” it. That means the topic can’t be taken up for the rest of the session.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.