Revision: Dec. 10, 2025, 8:46 a.m.
HB 1507 - AS INTRODUCED
2026 SESSION
26-2514
12/09
HOUSE BILL 1507
AN ACT requiring schools to provide a minimum amount of time for recess per day.
SPONSORS: Rep. M. Murray, Hills. 37; Rep. Harriott-Gathright, Hills. 10
COMMITTEE: Education Policy and Administration
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires public school districts, school administrative units (SAUs), and public charter school boards to develop a policy requiring a minimum amount of recess time per day. This bill also qualifies recess as instructional time in the school day, and provides districts, SAUs, and charter school boards the authority to alter required recess time in certain circumstances.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-2514
12/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT requiring schools to provide a minimum amount of time for recess per day.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Required Recess Time. Amend RSA 194 by inserting after section 15-c the following new section:
194:15-d Recess Time Requirement. All public school districts, school administrative units, and charter school boards shall develop a policy which establishes at a minimum, a guaranteed amount of recess time per day of 45 to 60 minutes for students in grade levels kindergarten through sixth grade. All public school districts, school administrative units, and charter school boards may develop a policy which exceeds the guaranteed amount of recess time per day of 45 to 60 minutes for students in grade levels kindergarten through sixth grade.
I. Definitions. For the purposes of this section:
(a) "Recess" shall be defined as physical activity that promotes fitness and well-being which must include unstructured peer to peer play outside, unless weather conditions negatively impact the safety of physical activity taking place outside.
(b) "Recess" shall not involve the use of electronic devices by students unless required by a student's individualized education program (IEP) or section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
II. Required recess time shall be in addition to physical education requirements and considered separate instructional time not to be deducted from any other instructional time or lunch time during school hours. Recess time shall also not be deducted or withheld as a means of punishment.
III. Public school districts, school administrative units, and charter school boards may shorten or alter the amount of recess time required per day on an individual basis due to exigent special circumstances, school assemblies or events, or weather conditions.