HB 542-FN (2011): relative to exceptions for objectionable material in public school courses.

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BibTeX: @misc{bill-2011-hb542, title = {HB 542-FN (2011): relative to exceptions for objectionable material in public school courses.}, howpublished = {Granite Record}, url = {https://graniterecord.org/bill/2011/hb542}, note = {Accessed 24 Oct. 2026} }

HB 542-FN (2011)

relative to exceptions for objectionable material in public school courses.

Status: Veto overridden, became law
Term: 2011-2012
House committee: Education
Senate committee: Education
Subject: Education - General
Chapter law: 271

The Story

It was introduced on January 6, 2011 and referred to the House Education committee. The committee held a public hearing on February 24, 2011. The committee met in executive session on March 3, 2011 and March 9, 2011. The majority recommended that the House pass it with changes (amendment 0726h), and the minority recommended that the House kill it, by a vote of 11–6. The report was placed on the regular calendar. The committee's amendment (0726h) was adopted on a voice vote on March 15, 2011, changing the text of the bill. On March 15, 2011 the House voted to pass it with changes on a roll call 197–148. It crossed to the Senate on March 23, 2011 and was referred to the Senate Education committee. The committee held a public hearing on April 5, 2011. The committee recommended that the Senate kill it. On April 13, 2011 the Senate voted to lay it on the table on a roll call 17–7, on a motion by Sen. Sharon Carson. On June 1, 2011 the Senate adopted “Remove From Table” on a voice vote, on a motion by Sen. Forsythe. On June 1, 2011 the Senate rejected a motion to kill it on a division vote 5–16. A floor amendment (2011-2251s), offered by Sen. Forsythe, was adopted on a voice vote on June 1, 2011, changing the text of the bill. On June 1, 2011 the Senate voted to pass it with changes on a voice vote and ordered it to a third reading. On June 8, 2011 the House adopted “House Non-Concurs with Senate AM 2251s(NT) and Requests C of C (Rep Balboni)” on a roll call 246–105. On June 8, 2011 the Senate adopted “Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference” on a voice vote, on a motion by Sen. Stiles. A committee of conference met on June 14, 2011 to try to settle the differences between the two chambers' versions of the bill. The Senate adopted the conference report (2422c) on a roll call 19–5. The House adopted the conference report (2422c) on a roll call 240–108. The bill was enrolled on June 22, 2011 — the final check of the text before it goes to the governor. The governor vetoed it on July 13, 2011. The legislature can override a veto with a two-thirds vote in both chambers. On November 30, 2011 the House voted 244–130 on overriding the governor's veto on a roll call, and the veto was sustained, failing to meet the two thirds threshold. On January 4, 2012 the House adopted “Reconsideration (Rep Kurk)”. On January 4, 2012 the House voted 255–112 to override the governor's veto on a roll call, meeting the two thirds threshold.

Hearings and Sessions

February 24, 2011, 10:00 AM: public hearing, House Education, LOB 207
March 3, 2011, 10:00 AM: executive session, House Education, LOB 207
March 9, 2011, 10:15 AM: executive session, House Education, LOB 207
April 5, 2011, 1:30 PM: hearing, Senate Education, LOB 103
June 14, 2011, 10:00 AM: committee of conference, LOB 207

Votes

March 15, 2011, House: OTP/AM 0726H(NT) — yeas 197, nays 148, passed
April 13, 2011, Senate: Lay on Table — yeas 17, nays 7, passed
June 1, 2011, Senate: Remove From Table — voice vote, passed
June 1, 2011, Senate: Inexpedient to Legislate — yeas 5, nays 16, failed
June 1, 2011, Senate: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2251s, NT — voice vote, passed
June 8, 2011, House: NON-CONCUR REQ C OF C (REP BALBONI) — yeas 246, nays 105, passed
June 8, 2011, Senate: Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference — voice vote, passed
June 22, 2011, Senate: Conference Committee Report 2422 — yeas 19, nays 5, passed
June 22, 2011, House: ADOPT COC REPORT #2422C — yeas 240, nays 108, passed
September 7, 2011, Senate: Notwithstanding the Governor's veto shall the bill become law? — yeas 17, nays 5, passed
November 30, 2011, House: SHALL HB 542 BECOME LAW? — yeas 244, nays 130, failed
January 4, 2012, House: SHALL HB 542 BECOME LAW — yeas 255, nays 112, passed

The Docket

January 6, 2011: Introduced 1/6/2011 and Referred to Education
February 24, 2011: Public Hearing: 2/24/2011 10:00 AM LOB 207
March 3, 2011: Executive Session: 3/3/2011 10:00 AM LOB 207
March 9, 2011: Executive Session 3/9/2011 10:15 AM LOB 207
March 9, 2011: Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment #0726h(NT) for Mar 15 (Vote 11-6; RC)
March 9, 2011: Proposed Majority Committee Amendment #2011-0726h (New Title)
March 9, 2011: Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
March 15, 2011: Amendment #0726h (New Title) Adopted, VV
March 15, 2011: Ought to Pass with Amendment #0726h(NT): MA RC 197-148
March 23, 2011: Introduced and Referred to Education
April 5, 2011: Hearing: 4/5/11, Room 103, LOB, 1:30 p.m.; SC18
April 6, 2011: Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate, 4/13/11; SC19
April 13, 2011: Inexpedient to Legislate Not Voted On
April 13, 2011: Sen. Carson Moved Laid on Table, RC 17Y-7N, MA
June 1, 2011: Sen. Forsythe Moved Remove From Table, MA, VV
June 1, 2011: Inexpedient to Legislate, Division 5Y-16N, MF
June 1, 2011: Sen. Forsythe moved Ought to Pass
June 1, 2011: Sen. Forsythe Floor Amendment #2011-2251s, NT, AA, VV
June 1, 2011: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2251s, NT, MA, VV; OT3rdg
June 1, 2011: Passed by Third Reading Resolution
June 8, 2011: House Non-Concurs with Senate AM 2251s(NT) and Requests C of C (Rep Balboni): MA RC 246-105
June 8, 2011: Speaker Appoints: Reps Balboni, Pitre, Hill, and Flanagan
June 8, 2011: Sen. Stiles Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV
June 8, 2011: President Appoints: Senators Stiles, Forsythe and Kelly
June 14, 2011: Conference Committee Meeting: 6/14/2011 10:00 AM LOB 207
June 14, 2011: Conference Committee Meeting: 6/14/2011 2:25 PM LOB 103
June 14, 2011: Conferee Change; Senator Carson Replaces Senator Kelly
June 16, 2011: Conference Committee Report #2011-2422c; Senate Amendment, Filed
June 22, 2011: Conference Committee Report 2422c; RC 19Y-5N, Adopted
June 22, 2011: Conference Committee Report #2422c Adopted, RC 240-108
June 22, 2011: Enrolled
June 22, 2011: Enrolled
July 13, 2011: Vetoed By Governor 07/13/2011
November 30, 2011: Shall HB542 Become Law: Veto Sustained, RC 244-130, Lacking Required Two-Thirds Vote
January 4, 2012: Reconsideration (Rep Kurk): MA DIV 256-115, [done during 1/4/2012 morning veto session]
January 4, 2012: Veto Overridden: RC 255-112 By Required Two-Thirds Vote, [done during 1/4/2012 morning veto session]
January 4, 2012: 9/7/11-Notwithstanding the Governor’s Veto, Shall HB 542 Become Law: RC 17Y-5N, Veto Overridden by required two-thirds vote
January 4, 2012: Veto Override 01/04/2012; Effective 01/01/2012; Chapter 0271

Laws It Would Change

RSA 186:11