"Unproved theories" bill in New Hampshire

The New Hampshire State House.

New Hampshire's House Bill 1206 would, if enacted, prohibit educators from presenting "unproved theories as fact" and "educators and school administrators from pushing or asserting, advocating for, or otherwise compelling belief in, any particular theory or ideology."

No criteria for ascertaining what theories are unproven, what constitutes a theory or ideology, and whether a given educator's practice counts as indoctrination rather than education are provided, and no theories or ideologies are identified in the bill. Evolution and climate change are frequently misrepresented as unproven theories, however.

Sponsored by Alicia Lekas (R-District 38) and Oliver Ford (R-District 3), House Bill 1206 was introduced on January 3, 2024, and referred to the House Education Committee, on which both Lekas and Ford sit.

Glenn Branch
Short Bio

Glenn Branch is Deputy Director of NCSE.

branch@ncse.ngo