HB 1412 - AS INTRODUCED
2026 SESSION
26-3094
12/08
HOUSE BILL 1412
AN ACT relative to the display of flags in schools and compliance with the federal flag code.
SPONSORS: Rep. Horrigan, Straf. 10; Rep. Swanson, Hills. 5; Rep. Burton, Straf. 10
COMMITTEE: Education Policy and Administration
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ANALYSIS
This bill adds requirements for the display of flags in schools and adds public charter schools as well as public academies to the statute. The bill also permits certain private schools to opt out of said requirements and authorizes local school boards to accept monetary donations for the purpose of acquiring flags and related appliances.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-3094
12/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT relative to the display of flags in schools and compliance with the federal flag code.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Display of Flags. Amend RSA 189:17 to read as follows:
189:17 Flags; Penalty. [The] Each local school board and each governing body of a public charter school or a public academy shall supply a United States and a New Hampshire state flag; the flags shall be made not less than 5 feet in length and 31 inches in width, with a flagstaff and appliances for displaying the same, for every [schoolhouse in the district] school building in which a public school, public charter school, or public academy is taught, at the expense of the district or governing body of a public charter school. They shall prescribe rules and regulations for the proper custody, care and display of these flags, including compliance with RSA 3-E:2; the regulations shall require that wherever possible, the United States flag and the New Hampshire state flag shall be displayed on separate staffs of equal height. When the flags are displayed on the same staff, the United States flag shall be displayed above the New Hampshire flag. The regulations shall further require that such flags shall be displayed prominently outside of the [schoolhouse] school building. When they are otherwise displayed, the flags shall be placed conspicuously in the principal room of assembly of the [schoolhouse] school building. The governing board of every private school shall supply a United States flag, such flag to be made not less than 5 feet in length and 31 inches in width, with a flagstaff and appliances for displaying same. They shall make provisions similar to those required in the public schools for the display of said flag. Any members of a school board or the governing board who shall refuse or neglect to comply with the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a violation. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the display of any other flags or banners on the premises of any public school, public charter school, public academy, or private school.
(a) For the purposes of this section, "private school" shall not include a recipient of an education freedom account under RSA 194-F that is not an elementary or secondary school located in the state.
(b) Schools may opt out of the applicability of this chapter for religious or political beliefs of the school community if approved by the local school board or governing body of a school.
2 Local School Board; Flags; Donations Permitted. Amend RSA 189:17-a, III to read as follows:
III. The local school board shall have the authority to accept the donation of flags and appliances, as well as monetary donations for the purposes of acquiring flags and appliances, and to determine the location of the flags in the classrooms.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
Dec. 4, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Education Policy and Administration