I do not believe that students should be required to listen to information on adoption. I think this is just a way to get them to think it is okay to get pregnant because there is the option of adoption if the pregnancy is unwanted. It would be so much better to teach them how to prevent pregnancy.
HB730
House · 2025 sessionRepublicanKilled in HouseAdoption education in schools
AIRequires public schools to annually provide at least one hour of adoption-related discussion and materials to students in grades 9-12, and requires colleges and community colleges to provide the same materials whenever sexually transmitted infections or contraception are covered or tested.
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.
Status
Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 6, 2025- ✓Introduced
- ✕House
- Senate
- Governor
- Law
Division of testimony
547 submissionsArgument digest · AI-generated
from 90 of 90 written submissionsHB730 would require public school districts to provide at least an hour of annual instruction and materials on adoption during health education for grades 9-12, and require colleges to provide adoption materials whenever STIs or contraception are discussed. The large majority of submitters oppose the bill, framing it as an ideologically-driven, anti-abortion mandate that inappropriately intrudes on curriculum decisions and medical care, while a small number of submitters support it as filling a gap in students' knowledge of adoption as an option, and the Office of the Child Advocate raised a neutral concern about potential harm to adopted and foster youth.
- Adoption should be presented as a real option for unplanned pregnancySupport1 of 90 reviewed
A supporter argues that students are not currently given adequate information about adoption as an alternative to raising a child or having an abortion, and that the bill fills that gap.
- Students should be taught what abortion involvesSupport1 of 90 reviewed
A supporter argues that youth should be informed about what happens during an abortion procedure as part of health education.
- Bill reflects an anti-abortion/ideological agenda, not health educationOppose19 of 90 reviewed
Many opponents argue the bill is really about promoting an anti-abortion or religious viewpoint under the guise of health education, calling it indoctrination or propaganda rather than neutral instruction.
“HB730 represents yet another attempt to blanket our students with anti-choice propaganda while they are a captive audience in a state mandated Health class.”
— Kara Clavio, Durham · #404249 — read full submission →
“Yet another bill seeking to impose pro-life bias into school curriculum. Enough already! Health classes should draw upon scientific sources and plain facts of biological development, not attempt to social engineer school-aged children.”
— Lisa Henderson, Newmarket · #402163 — read full submission →
“This is a tremendous overstep and a gross misuse of education in the Granite State. The bias and indoctrination displayed by this bill is 10/10.”
— Linda Muri, Hanover · #400740 — read full submission →
- It is medically inappropriate to tie adoption info to STI/contraception careOppose17 of 90 reviewed
Opponents, including physicians and health workers, argue that requiring adoption materials whenever STIs or contraception are discussed conflates unrelated topics, is not sound medical practice, and could discourage students or patients from seeking necessary care.
“It is not sound medical practice to provide materials educating about adoption while providing contraception or sexually transmitted infection medical care.”
— Tara Higgins, Hanover · #403742 — read full submission →
“What does adoption have to do with safe sex information? How is that relevant if we're talking about protecting yourself against diseases?”
— Elizabeth Ryan, Manchester · #401869 — read full submission →
“This is an overreach and a waste of time and resources, not to mention the fact that it may be a huge deterrent to receiving/ accessing necessary medical care which could become a public health emergency”
— Andrea Bickford, Bow · #406747 — read full submission →
- Curriculum decisions should stay with local schools and educatorsOppose8 of 90 reviewed
Opponents argue that mandating specific curriculum content from the state legislature overrides the judgment of local school boards, teachers, and health professionals who are better positioned to design balanced instruction.
“This mandate unnecessarily intrudes on local control of curriculum and imposes an additional burden on our education system.”
— Amanda Scenna, Exeter · #405955 — read full submission →
“AFT-NH opposes this bill because it is state interference with local control over curriculum and choosing curriculum materials.”
— Debrah Howes, Bow · #407421 — read full submission →
“The legislature should have no say in requiring what is taught in public schools.”
— Leigh Levandoski, Rollinsford · #401599 — read full submission →
- Bill adds unfunded administrative burden on schools and teachersOppose7 of 90 reviewed
Some opponents say teachers and schools are already overburdened and underfunded, and that adding a mandated topic and compliance/reporting requirements is an unfunded mandate they can't easily absorb.
“Haven't New Hampshire teachers already got enough on their plate? They're underpaid, understaffed and way underappreciated. Let's not add more to their burden.”
— James Mason, Hancock · #404144 — read full submission →
“This bill is another shallow exercise in virtue signaling as well as an unfunded mandate that requires expansion of curriculum at a time when state support to public schools continues to decline.”
— Daniel Smith, Newmarket · #395432 — read full submission →
- Framing adoption as an alternative devalues abortion as a valid choiceOppose6 of 90 reviewed
Several opponents argue that promoting adoption in this context implicitly casts abortion as something to be avoided or shamed, when in their view abortion is a legitimate, personal healthcare decision that should not be politicized.
“Whether a person chooses to give a child up for abortion or seek an abortion for an unintended pregnancy is a person choice. To require schools to provide adoption information when contraception, STIs, and STDs are discussed is dangerous and irresponsible.”
— Cora Panella, Nashua · #407769 — read full submission →
“Forcing information on adoption could lead to people being forced to carry pregnancies to term that they should not have to. Access to abortion is basic healthcare.”
— Meredith Orchard-Blowen, Barrington · #407020 — read full submission →
- Adoption itself carries risks or trauma the bill's messaging would omitOppose4 of 90 reviewed
Some opponents, including at least one self-identified adoptee, argue that adoption is not a simple positive alternative and that mandated materials would present a one-sided view that ignores documented harms to adoptees, birth parents, and the child welfare system.
“Adoption causes biopsychosocial trauma for everyone in the triad. Adoptees are 4x more likely to commit suicide, suffer abuse, be rehomed, commit paracide and to be pipelined through the mental health/prison system.”
— Cecelia Simon, north hampton · #407143 — read full submission →
“the issues and studies related to adoptees and the foster care system MUST be covered IN ADDITION to adoption services available in order to provide a full picture (good and bad) of the adoption process.”
— Carlyn Costales, Allenstown · #393556 — read full submission →
- Proposed materials/videos are biased and from anti-abortion advocacy groupsOppose3 of 90 reviewed
A few opponents specifically criticize the videos and materials referenced in the bill (from the group Live Action) as misleading, factually inaccurate, and produced by an anti-abortion activist rather than an educational or medical source.
“I found them to be misleading and extremely biased in their presentation. Of note, the developer of these videos is the Lila Rose (known for her anti-abortion activism”
— Karen Chase, Hanover · #406938 — read full submission →
“This bill is biased, the video has incorrect information and does not allow for both sides to be heard.”
— lori Avery, Grantham · #400324 — read full submission →
- Bill's enforcement mechanism is overreaching and lacks an opt-outOppose4 of 90 reviewed
Opponents point out that the bill has no opt-out provision for students, applies even to adult college students, and grants the attorney general broad power to sue on behalf of residents, which some describe as authoritarian or punitive.
- Legislature should focus on more pressing prioritiesOppose6 of 90 reviewed
Several opponents argue that lawmakers' time would be better spent on other issues, such as fixing the foster care and adoption systems themselves, homelessness, or other crises, rather than mandating this curriculum.
“Please resubmit this bill when actual work has been done to safeguard children in the foster care and adoption systems.”
— Angela Koenig, Hanover · #401666 — read full submission →
“We have a homeless and drug crisis, a failing CPS system (note Harmony Montgomery and SO many more) and this is what we're wasting time and energy on?”
— Lindsay Dutton, Manchester · #405969 — read full submission →
- Mandate compels disclosure of private health informationOppose2 of 90 reviewed
A couple of opponents frame the requirement to provide adoption materials during confidential health visits as a violation of patient privacy or medical confidentiality.
- Risk of trauma or stigma for adopted and foster youthNeutral1 of 90 reviewed
The Office of the Child Advocate raised a concern, without taking a support or oppose position, that mandated in-class discussion of adoption could be traumatic or stigmatizing for students who are in foster care or have been adopted, and could undermine trust with educators.
Generated by claude-sonnet-5 (claude code agent) on Jul 22, 2026. Quotes are verbatim excerpts, verified against the cited submission before publication. Summaries are AI interpretation of the record, not part of it.
STI testing and co reception have been proven to PREVENT unplanned pregnancies, and therefore prevent abortions. I cannot see what this bill could possibly accomplish.
This is confidential medical information and violates personal liberties and freedoms (HIPAA too?!).
Statistics show adoptive parents are more likely to abuse, disown, and even murder their adopted kids than biological families. Adoption is human trafficking and I oppose this bill.
Whether a person chooses to give a child up for abortion or seek an abortion for an unintended pregnancy is a person choice. To require schools to provide adoption information when contraception, STIs, and STDs are discussed is dangerous and irresponsible. This is harmful to New Hampshire citizens.
I strongly oppose this legislation.
Holy toledo, these particular bill sponsors and I would not have fun together at a dinner party... I oppose this bill—even as someone who went through infertility treatments, was desperate for a baby, and spoke with adoption agencies and looked into fostering. I oppose this bill. If this bill were truly about saving children, there wouldn't be hundreds of children held in Detention Camps or being pushed right back over the southern border into Mexico. Where are the pamphlets handed out to citizens about taking in kids from the overburdened foster system? Where are the pamphlets explaining the needs of children at the border? Where are the pamphlets discussing safe sex to prevent unwanted pregnancies? Or the pamphlets with resources for birth control pills? Even now, I’m getting away from the point—and that’s one of my concerns. Let me focus on that for a moment: While education on reproductive health is important, this bill introduces unnecessary restrictions and creates a political agenda that places undue pressure on both educators and students. Firstly, requiring schools to provide adoption-related materials in the context of health education risks turning what should be a neutral, fact-based discussion about sexual health into a one-sided, ideological presentation. Health education should focus on providing medically accurate, comprehensive information that equips students to make informed decisions about their health. The introduction of adoption into a curriculum that is primarily focused on STIs and contraception could inadvertently shift the focus away from critical health topics (as I just did). Instead of addressing sexual health and reproductive rights, the bill could make these discussions feel politicized, leaning toward promoting adoption as the “solution” over other options, without offering students a full, unbiased view of their reproductive rights and health choices. Further, while adoption can be an important topic for many, forcing it into discussions about STIs, contraception, or exams could risk turning adoption into an unwanted diversion from essential, evidence-based health education. Health class should be a safe, supportive environment, focusing on facts and choices, not an emotional battleground where students may face shaming or misunderstanding. For students who may be personally facing situations like considering adoption, pregnancy, or related topics, the classroom should not become a place of intrusive material—it should remain focused on providing students with the tools to make informed decisions about their own bodies. Additionally, mandating such discussions without the input of parents, especially when it involves deeply personal and sensitive topics, opens the door for further cultural and ideological impositions. Schools should educate, not indoctrinate. Don't even get me started on the college mandate. I paid a lot of money for my college education. This is not a private religious institution where the board can make these decisions for students. Legislators have no right to start pushing religious ideologies in public universities—thank you First Amendment. How would the seven sponsors of this bill feel if the power pivoted in this state (or even country), and a different religious ideology took hold and began mandating its own beliefs at the high school and college level? I’m guessing it wouldn’t sit well. Finally, adding a requirement for colleges and high schools to provide access to adoption materials whenever STIs or contraception are discussed also creates unnecessary logistical burdens for educators. It risks diluting the focus of comprehensive health education and forces educators into potentially uncomfortable situations where they must introduce topics that don’t always belong in the specific context. This creates a fragmented and confusing approach to sexual health education, hindering students' ability to learn what they truly need to know. Let’s be clear: This bill is not about education. It’s about using school curricula to push one-sided ideological views on young people. This bill is not about health. It’s about shifting the focus away from comprehensive sexual health education, turning it into a tool to further a political agenda. This bill is not about student well-being. It risks turning critical discussions about reproductive health into emotionally charged debates about adoption, reducing students’ ability to make informed, balanced choices about their health. If lawmakers truly want to support students' well-being, they should focus on providing comprehensive, medically accurate sexual health education, free from political or ideological interference. Students deserve to learn about STIs, contraception, reproductive rights, and personal choices in a clear, unbiased way that empowers them to make informed decisions about their own bodies. I urge you to reject HB 730 and instead advocate for policies that respect student autonomy and prioritize balanced, fact-based education on reproductive health.
HB 730 would require colleges to give adoption information any time STIs, STDs, or contraception are discussed.
Contraception, STD prevention, birth control, and general reproductive healthcare information are of the utmost importance and trying to conflate the option of adoption with those things is misguided. Everyone knows about adoption as a concept, and unless that information INCLUDES the ways in which the system is harmful to children, then it is also mis informative. Students should be able to learn actual reproductive healthcare without intrusion of state politician’s personal beliefs.
AFT-NH opposes this bill because it is state interference with local control over curriculum and choosing curriculum materials. It is anextremely proscriptive bill that inserst the state legislature in what are local school district decisions made by the local school board.
Anti-abortion indoctrination has no place in schools.
There is absolutely no reason to provide adoption information alongside basic health information at the college level. Once again, this bill is about indoctrination, not about health.
Please oppose this bill, it's not about health or education.
Adoption has nothing to do with healthcare and this bill is an insult to young people and qualified educators and health care providers. This is not small government this is not effective care for youth- I have worked with youth in NH for 15 years and vehemently encourage this bill to be opposed.
The focus of this bill on demonizing abortion is offensive and cynical, and counterproductive to any goals for assuring that all children are born into loving homes and are assured an adequate education and access to health care. Cynical? Why talk only about adoption, but not about ways to prevent unwanted pregnancies? Why should the legislature focus solely on abortion, but ignore life after birth? No one is forced to have an abortion. If you want to reduce abortions, consider ways to reduce unwanted abortions: allowing teens access to information about contraceptives and access to contraception. Education about what it takes to raise a child in a healthy environment, with access to quality education. Perhaps you would consider a bill that requires teenage males to wear a false pregnancy outfit so that they can experience part of the burden of pregnancy? Perhaps you should consider a bill that impounds the wages of any male who fathers a child out of marriage. In our society, we have differing views on abortion. As a mother and grandmother I believe we should focus on life after birth. Even where we disagree, we can come together on ways to reduce unintended pregnancies. It is a grievous sin to consign a child to a home where he or she is not wanted, and where there are not the financial and social supports to raise a child to a happy and contributing adulthood.
so dumb
Overreach by state government is the purpose of HB730. It mandates public school students’ (minors) and college or university students’ (adults) annual participation in, “at least one hour of discussion related to adoption and provided materials related to unexpected pregnancy options including adoption, current adoption practices, adoption resources, and the safe haven program.” HB730 contains no provision for students, including adult college students, to opt out. Instead it threatens enforcement by the state attorney general who, “shall have standing as parens patriae on behalf of any or all residents or citizens of New Hampshire.” Additional authoritarian measures include permitting the attorney general, "to have a cause of action to sue for damages or injunctive relief on behalf of any or all residents or citizens of New Hampshire against any person or entity that violates this section.” HB730 is a punitive measure crafted to demand obedience.
HB 730- OPPOSE Adoption is not an alternative to having an abortion. Adoption is a multibillion dollar industry that preys on Women in crisis. Adoption causes biopsychosocial trauma for everyone in the triad. Adoptees are 4x more likely to commit suicide, suffer abuse, be rehomed, commit paracide and to be pipelined through the mental health/prison system. Reference; Adoption: Uncharted Waters: David Kirschner Thank you for your time, Cecelia Simon - Adoptee
This is an outrage. Especially when birth control is not taught or easily available. Stop with the scare tactics and do something productive.
Trust is essential for anyone seeking reproductive health care, and it is important for health professionals to have the ability to discuss all potential options with their patients. Omitting vital information about reproductive health only increases the chance that women (who would be almost exclusively affected by this bill) will be put at risk of harm. I support a comprehensive reproductive health infrastructure where the needs of the women involved are put first, and this represents a step backward in that effort. I oppose this bill in the strongest terms.
NO!!! This bill has the potential to undo the extensive work already completed in the developing of New Hampshire's Climate Plan Interrupt the grant funding and progress of many projects already approved and in mid-development, and Do serious harm to disadvantaged citizens in our state who are most vulnerable to the impact of increasingly severe climate events and ongoing deterioration of environmental conditions.
Forcing information on adoption could lead to people being forced to carry pregnancies to term that they should not have to. Access to abortion is basic healthcare.
I advocate for comprehensive education surrounding sex, health, and wellness. This certainly may include adoption services or avenues as an option. However, in no way, shape, or form should this option be tied to specific requests for medical information or services. It also implies that there is going to be no effort given to provide students with a comprehensive sex, health, and wellness education leading up to these requests for medical information and services. Adoption itself is not an all-in-one solution, the solution should be education that is comprehensive and accessible, not stigmatized and biased.
I oppose this bill. I am particularly troubled by the section at the bottom “Community colleges shall provide materials which meet the requirements of RSA 193-E:3-g, II to all students anytime sexually transmitted diseases, sexually transmitted infections, or contraception are discussed, or are or may be included on an examination.” Our community colleges teach students over a wide range of ages and backgrounds. Discussing adoption every time STDs, STIs, or contraception’s are even discussed would be impossible to regulate or keep record of. Does this apply to nursing or health science classes? Adoption is not relevant many times these topics are brought up. This is a step to banning discussion of contraception in schools.
This is a weird bill that doesn’t need to exist as law. I oppose