NH House Testimony

HB730

House · 2025 sessionRepublicanKilled in House

Adoption education in schools

AI

Requires 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.

Education - GeneralChildrenEducation - Higher

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 6, 2025
  1. Introduced
  2. House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Division of testimony

547 submissions
Support 22Oppose 524Neutral 1

Argument digest · AI-generated

from 90 of 90 written submissions

HB730 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.

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.

Shirley MontgomeryOpposeHanover, NHfor MyselfFeb 5, 2025

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.

Sarah WalshOpposeStratham, NHfor MyselfFeb 5, 2025

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.

Kim MasseOpposeWindham, NHfor MyselfFeb 5, 2025

This is confidential medical information and violates personal liberties and freedoms (HIPAA too?!).

Dani-Jean StuartOpposeWeare, NHfor MyselfFeb 5, 2025

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.

Cora PanellaOpposeNashua, NHfor MyselfFeb 5, 2025

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.

Krystal MartinOpposeDOVER, NHfor MyselfFeb 5, 2025

I strongly oppose this legislation.

Ashley GuionOpposeSwanzey, NHfor MyselfFeb 5, 2025

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.

Kayla LangenheimOpposeDover, NHfor MyselfFeb 5, 2025

HB 730 would require colleges to give adoption information any time STIs, STDs, or contraception are discussed.

Rosalind MullenOpposeRochester, NHfor MyselfFeb 5, 2025

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.

Debrah HowesOpposeBow, NHfor American Federation of Teachers - NHFeb 5, 2025

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.

Matt FleuryOpposeDover, NHfor MyselfFeb 5, 2025

Anti-abortion indoctrination has no place in schools.

Lauren BlanchetteOpposeConcord, NHfor MyselfFeb 5, 2025

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.

Christopher LaFaveOpposeConcord, NHfor MyselfFeb 5, 2025

Please oppose this bill, it's not about health or education.

Stephanie VazzanoOpposeConcord, NHfor MyselfFeb 5, 2025

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.

Susan HolcombeOpposeHanover, NHfor MyselfFeb 5, 2025

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.

Benjamin BancroftOpposeRye, NHfor MyselfFeb 5, 2025

so dumb

Andrea Bentley-Melle, APRNOpposePETERBOROUGH, NHfor MyselfFeb 5, 2025

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.

Cecelia SimonOpposenorth hampton, NHfor MyselfFeb 5, 2025

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

Jane ColbathOpposeDover, NHfor MyselfFeb 5, 2025

This is an outrage. Especially when birth control is not taught or easily available. Stop with the scare tactics and do something productive.

Matt BryantOpposeNashua, NHfor MyselfFeb 5, 2025

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.

Melinda StuckerOpposeHanover, NHfor MyselfFeb 5, 2025

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.

Meredith Orchard-BlowenOpposeBarrington, NHfor MyselfFeb 5, 2025

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.

Ian TroostOpposePortsmouth, NHfor MyselfFeb 5, 2025

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.

Hannah MageeOpposeOssipee, NHfor MyselfFeb 5, 2025

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.

Ally scholtzOpposeCenter Conway, NHfor MyselfFeb 5, 2025

This is a weird bill that doesn’t need to exist as law. I oppose