Requiring school districts to educate and provide information to students regarding adoption during health education for grades 9 through 12, and in college in certain circumstances.
HB 730 requires school districts, chartered public schools, colleges, universities, and community colleges to provide adoption-related education and materials in connection with health education. For grades 9 through 12, each school must annually conduct at least one hour of discussion on adoption and provide materials covering unexpected pregnancy options, current adoption practices, adoption resources, and the state safe haven program. Schools must also submit proof of compliance to the Department of Education, and the department must approve the materials and adopt implementing rules.
The bill also extends the requirement into higher education by directing colleges and community colleges to provide the same adoption materials whenever sexually transmitted diseases, sexually transmitted infections, or contraception are discussed, or may be included on an exam. It creates enforcement authority for the attorney general, including standing as parens patriae and a cause of action for damages or injunctive relief against violators. The bill would take effect July 1, 2025, and the fiscal note was incomplete pending information from the Department of Justice.
HB 730 would add a new statutory requirement in RSA 193-E for adoption education in secondary health and wellness curricula and create related obligations in RSA 187-A and RSA 188-F for postsecondary institutions. It would require state-approved materials, annual compliance reporting, and administrative rulemaking by the Department of Education, while also giving the attorney general explicit enforcement powers. The bill would affect school districts, chartered public schools, colleges, universities, community colleges, and the Department of Education, and could expose institutions or other violators to litigation.
Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to be framed as a pro-adoption education initiative rather than a broadly controversial structural change to education law. No committee transcript or recorded votes were provided, so there is no documented floor or committee sentiment to assess. The inclusion of state-approved materials and a safe haven reference suggests supporters may view it as informational and preventive, while critics could see it as a mandated message in health education.
The main points of contention likely concern the scope of the mandate, the requirement that schools devote at least one hour annually to adoption-related discussion, and the extension of the requirement to colleges whenever sexual health topics arise. Another likely issue is the enforcement scheme, which gives the attorney general standing and a damages/injunctive-relief cause of action, potentially raising concerns about litigation risk and state oversight of local curricula and higher-education instruction. The bill also requires Department of Education approval of materials, which may prompt debate over content control and administrative burden.