SB 33
Requires schools to post policies on "authorized" materials and create formal complaint processes for parents.
Status
Dead. Senate voted non-concur.
Sponsor
Sen. Kevin Avard (R)
TL;DR
Would have created a formalized pipeline for book challenges and material complaints. Every district would have had to adopt and publicly post which materials are "authorized," and establish a complaint process for parents who think materials are "harmful to minors" or "offensive." Killed when the Senate voted non-concur — but the infrastructure for organized book-banning campaigns came back stronger in SB 434.
Full Analysis
SB 33 was the beta version of SB 434. Sponsored by Sen. Kevin Avard, it would have required every school district to publicly post lists of "authorized" materials and create formal complaint processes for parents who found materials objectionable.
The bill died when the Senate voted non-concur, but its sponsors learned from the failure. The concepts in SB 33 — formalized complaint processes, vague standards for "harmful" or "offensive" content, and the framework for organized challenges — all reappeared in SB 434, but expanded to cover not just library books but all instructional materials, speakers, artwork, and classroom content.
SB 33 matters because it shows the iteration strategy. When one book-banning bill fails, the next session brings a more sophisticated version. The goal hasn't changed; the tactics have gotten better.
Bill statuses as of March 2026. Check LegiScan or NH General Court for the latest.