Granite State Democrats renewed their anti-parent rhetoric, warning of the danger posed to children by their moms and dads, but this year it didn’t work. The Parental Bill of Rights passed both chambers of the state legislature Thursday and is headed to Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s desk for a signature.
Passing the pro-parent legislation was a top priority for Speaker of the House Sherm Packard (R-Londonderry).
“House Republicans campaigned on a commitment to put families first and to restore the rightful role of parents in decisions impacting their children’s education, health, and well-being. This bill fulfills that promise and defends the values that matter most to countless Granite Staters,” Packard said after the vote.
Last year, the legislation was narrowly defeated in the GOP-controlled House thanks to opposition from a handful of Republicans. On Thursday, the bill easily passed the House in a 210-160 vote. Two members of each party crossed over to vote with the other side: Democrats Dale Girard (Claremont) and Santosh Salvi (Nashua) voted yes, while Republicans Joseph Guthrie (Hampstead) and Brian Taylor (Freedom) voted no.
The vote to pass the Parental Bill of Rights marked the first of many GOP legislative victories of the day — a dramatic departure from last year, when the GOP’s very narrow majority in the House kept it from passing key legislation, including bans on local sanctuary city pro-illegal immigration ordinances and expansion of the state’s Education Freedom Account program.
And as soon as the Senate convened Thursday afternoon, Senate President Sharon Carson (R-Londonderry) quickly used her party’s 16-8 majority to hold a voice vote to approve HB 10. That maneuver paved the way for a quick concurrence vote on the other side of the wall, passing the legislation.
“Parents have a fundamental right to take care of their children and protect them from inappropriate content,” Carson said in a statement. “Over the years, Granite State parents have struggled to have a seat at the table, but this bill resolves that issue.”
Democrats continued to argue that parents are simply too dangerous to be trusted with authority over their children.
“Mandatory disclosure provision for school personnel puts children in harm’s way,” said a horrified Rep. Peter Petrigno (D-Milford). “School personnel would be forced to answer any and all questions directed by parents.”
Rep. Amy Malone (D-Rochester) said public schools are “safe spaces for children” and compared teachers and other school staff required to answer queries from parents as “spies” and “informants.”
“In what world does a parent’s right to know outweigh a child’s right to safety?” Malone asked.
Rep. Alicia Gregg (D-Nashua) said the bill is “about erasing the rights of children.”
“(It) sends a message loud and clear that children have no rights unless a parent grants them,” she added.
Democrats have argued for years that allowing parents to know about their own children’s behavior at school, in particular their behavior related to sex and gender, could result in injury or even death. During last year’s debate, Gregg ominously warned, “We know how domestic violence can fester and thrive in the secrecy of our homes.”
“While some parents are good and trustworthy,” she conceded, “I know firsthand the damage a parent can inflict.”
And New Hampshire state Democratic chair Ray Buckley infamously claimed that letting parents know what their children are doing will mean “some kids getting beaten to death.” (Democrats have never identified a single such case in New Hampshire history.)
For Republicans, however, their pitch was simple.
Rep. Debra DeSimone (R-Atkinson), one of HB 10’s sponsors, said parents “have a fundamental right to raise their children” before taking aim at her colleagues’ claim that public schools are “safe spaces” for children.
“Most parents I know are way more trustworthy than teachers like Pamela Smart,” she said, referencing the former New Hampshire teacher who made national headlines decades ago for seducing a sophomore student and convincing him to carry out the murder of her husband.
“Governments do not raise children; parents do,” said Rep. Jim Kofalt (R-Wilton).
