(The Center Square) — In a split with fellow Republicans, New Hampshire Gov Kelly Ayotte vetoed a bill Tuesday that would have authorized parent-led efforts to ban books and other “inappropriate materials” from the state’s public schools and libraries.
The legislation, which passed the GOP-controlled state Legislature earlier this year, called for creating a new process for banning books in New Hampshire schools by allowing parents and other individuals to file complaints challenging specific titles in libraries they believe are inappropriate.
It specifically lists materials they deem “harmful” to minors, including nudity, sexual conduct, sadomasochistic abuse, as well as other “patently offensive” subject material that lacks “value” to students.
But Ayotte said the state already has a process for parents through their local school district to “exercise their rights to ensure their children are not exposed to inappropriate materials.”
“As a parent, I understand and appreciate the concerns parents have about their children being exposed to age-inappropriate or objectionable materials in schools,” she wrote in her veto message.
But Ayotte said she doesn’t believe the state “needs to, nor should it, engage in the role of addressing questions of literary value and appropriateness” given that the measure called for financial penalties based on “subjective standards” of indecency.
The Republican said she also has concerns that the proposal, if approved, would lead to “extensive civil action” over materials in the state’s schools, which she said “could open the door to unnecessary litigation from out-of-state groups.
“If the Legislature determines that [the current statute] is not being implemented or enforced adequately, the more suitable and narrow way to address these concerns would be to modify that statute,” Ayotte added.
The state’s largest teachers union was among those who praised the governor for rejecting the proposal and “standing up for the freedom to read.”
“Every student deserves to see themselves reflected in the pages of their books,” Megan Tuttle, president of the New Hampshire chapter of the National Education Association, said in a statement. “We hope this book ban bill veto represents a changing tide at the State House and call on lawmakers to listen to Granite Staters who overwhelmingly oppose classroom censorship efforts.”
The debate over the measure comes amid a nationwide uptick in “book challenges” by parent groups, conservative organizations and lawmakers across the country who are pushing to remove certain books in schools and libraries, especially those dealing with LGBTQ and racial themes.
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Critics argue that efforts to ban books are being driven largely by racism and homophobia, and are harming students and stifling free speech, with many of the challenges focusing on titles with themes of race, sexuality and gender identity.
But conservative groups claim public and school libraries are being infiltrated by left-wing groups who want to push a radical agenda on youth. They say parents should have more control over the titles their children have access to in public schools, particularly when it comes to sexually explicit material.