By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org
CONCORD – A Republican-backed bill which would limit the types of flags that can be flown at schools is looking like it is headed to defeat.

The Senate Executive Departments and Administration Committee voted to recommend that Republican backed HB 1132 be sent to interim study, Wednesday.

The bill, sponsored by State Rep. Lisa Freeman, R-Tilton, passed the House on a vote of 182-156.

It would limit the flags allowed to be flown to the American flag, the NH flag and the POW/MIA flag.
A related bill, HB 1345, which would require schools to establish rules on display of flags was killed in the House on a voice vote March 5.

State Sen. Howard Pearl, R-Loudon chair of the committee, said he has issues he has not been able to reconcile with the bill and said that it leaves out flags which could be flown supporting Future Farmers of America and Key Club and others that represent the spirit of the school.

State Sen. Tim Lang, R-Sanbornton said he understood the intent of the bill is to “depoliticize” schools but it would leave out sports flags and school mascots.

State Sen. Tara Reardon, D-Concord, said the bill would unnecessarily limit what a school might decide and she was not sure what the benefit of the bill had.

A hearing was held on the bill before that committee on April 8 and according to the record, 413 opposed the bill and seven supported it.

Beth Scaer, who supported it described for the committee a situation at Nashua North High School in which a six foot LGBTQ+ pride flag was hung in the school lobby and an eight foot similar flag was hung at an elementary school in Hudson.

She said flying a Christian flag might be more problematic and that this could lead to one-sided displays.
Julie Smith told the committee kids are in school to learn and not be indoctrinated.

The bill calls for a fine of up to $1,000 per offense and would go into effect Sept. 1, 2027 if passed.
Opposing it during the Senate hearing were representatives of the ACLU of NH, Kent Street Coalition, 603 Equality and the American Federation of Teachers among others.

The state of Utah became the first in the nation to ban the flying of LGBTQ+ flats at schools in the Beehive State and it went into effect May 7, 2025.

Deb Howes, president of the American Federation of Teachers of NH said the bill represents state intrusion on a local control issue. She said it also makes the task of creating a welcoming school environment much more difficult.

Amanda Azad, policy director for the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire called the bill “broad” and “extreme” and noted there is no definition of flags and banners in statute. She said it was also vague.

Louise Spencer of Kent Street Coalition said she worried it would not be fairly enforced and could be discriminatory and lead to lawsuits.

State Rep. Loren Selig, D-Durham also testified in opposition and said students should be learning how to discuss different perspectives and not how to avoid them.

The bill goes next to the full Senate for consideration. A copy of it is here https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/billinfo.aspx?id=1515&inflect=2

The committee held off its vote for another week on the bipartisan backed HB 1332 relative to the authorized display of flags on state house grounds.

This bill limits the flags which may be displayed on state house grounds to only those flags officially recognized by the federal government by law, executive order, or an official agency regulation, with the exception of the Gold Star Flag, which the governor may authorize to display on state house grounds.
Reardon said the bill further limits what the governor can authorize, though Pearl said he thought with amendments it “strikes the right balance.”