New Hampshire 2026 Session Status: Passed Senate 6 R cosponsors

SB 578 — relative to play-based curriculum and limitations on recess periods for pupils.

Last action — Conference Committee Report: Not Filed HJ 14

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced November 25, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.

Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the House.

Odds of enactment

Moderate chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a moderate chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 38% · moderate confidence

  • Passed Senate

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 9 sponsors

    1 primary, 8 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (6 R).

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

The bill addresses play-based curriculum and recess limitations for students.

This legislation focuses on implementing a play-based curriculum while also setting limits on recess time for pupils. The aim is to create guidelines around how play is integrated into educational settings.

What this means for you
  • Families: This bill may influence the way children experience play and recess in their school environment.

Summary

(Second New Title) relative to play-based curriculum and limitations on recess periods for pupils.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

42 added · 28 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amended bill SB 578 extends play-based learning from kindergarten through third grade and requires recess for all students from kindergarten to eighth grade. It now defines recess as a time for physical activity aimed at fitness without the use of electronic devices, and schools can count this time as part of instructional hours. Importantly, the bill limits situations where students can be kept from recess, ensuring that only safety concerns can justify such actions. These changes highlight the importance of physical activity and play in education, helping to support children's overall well-being and learning.

→
Previous
Latest
SB 578 - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE 02/19/2026 0509s 14May2026...
SB 578 - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE 02/19/2026 0509s SESSION 26-2251 12/09 SENATE BILL 578 AN ACT relative to play-based curriculum and physical education curriculum.
1945h SESSION 26-2251 12/09 SENATE BILL 578 AN ACT relative to play-based curriculum and limitations on recess periods for pupils.
Modifies play-based curriculum by removing the requirement that educators develop literacy through guided reading.
Extends play-based curriculum from kindergarten until third grade.
Limits withholding pupils from recess unless a pupil's participation poses a physical safety risk to the pupil or one or more of the pupil's peers.
Requires recess for all students from kindergarten until the eighth grade as a part of physical education curriculum.
Requires that school staff make all reasonable efforts to minimize a pupil's exclusion from recess to the greatest extent possible.
Defines recess as physical activity that promotes fitness and well-being and prohibits the use of electronic devices during recess.
IV.
Specifies that elementary and middle schools may count recess as instructional time.
V.
Limits withholding pupils from recess unless a pupil's participation poses a physical safety risk.
SB 578 - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE 02/19/2026 0509s 14May2026...
SB 578 - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE 02/19/2026 0509s 26-2251 12/09 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six AN ACT relative to play-based curriculum and physical education curriculum.
1945h 26-2251 12/09 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six AN ACT relative to play-based curriculum and limitations on recess periods for pupils.
1 Modification of Play-Based Curriculum.
1 Expansion of Play-Based Curriculum.
Instruction in support of standards for kindergarten [standards] shall be engaging and shall foster children's development and learning in all domains including physical, social, cognitive, and language.
Instruction in support of standards for kindergarten [standards] through third grade shall be engaging and shall foster children's development and learning in all domains including physical, social, cognitive, and language.
Educators shall [develop literacy through guided reading and shall] provide unstructured time for the discovery of each child's individual talents, abilities, and needs.
Educators shall develop literacy through guided reading and shall provide unstructured time for the discovery of each child's individual talents, abilities, and needs.
Studies;
Recess Physical Education Requirement.
Limitation on Denial of Recess Periods Established.
A pupil shall not be denied recess by a member of the school’s staff unless the pupil’s participation poses an immediate threat to the physical safety of the pupil or to the physical safety of one or more of the pupil’s peers.
The school board shall ensure that recess is included in the physical education curriculum for all students in grades kindergarten through eighth grade, with the exception of schools where eighth grade is a part of the high school.
Elementary schools and middle schools, as described in RSA 189:25, may count recess as instructional time for pupils in kindergarten through eighth grade.
(a) For the purposes of this paragraph, recess shall be defined as physical activity that promotes fitness and well-being which shall include unstructured play outside, unless weather conditions negatively impact the safety of physical activity taking place outside.
(b) For the purposes of this paragraph, recess shall not include any time considered instructional time for a physical education class.
(c) For the purposes of this paragraph, recess shall not involve the use of electronic devices by students, including but not limited to cell phones, laptops, tablets, and video game consoles or devices.
(d) A pupil shall not be denied recess by a member of the school’s staff unless the pupil’s participation poses an immediate threat to the physical safety of the pupil or to the physical safety of one or more of the pupil’s peers.
This act shall take effect August 1, 2026.
This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
⬇ Download PDF
View plain text versions (3)

Action History

  1. Conference Committee Report: Not Filed HJ 14

  2. Committee of Conference Meeting: 05/27/2026, 10:30 am, Room 154, GP

  3. ==CANCELLED== Committee of Conference Meeting: 05/26/2026, 10:30 am, Room 154, GP

  4. Speaker Appoints: Reps. Noble, Peternel, Freeman, M. Murray 05/21/2026 HJ 14

  5. House Accedes to Senate Request for CofC (Rep. Noble): MA VV 05/21/2026 HJ 14

  6. President Appoints: Senators Ward, Sullivan, Altschiller; (In Recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13

  7. Sen. Ward Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment; Requests C of C, MA, VV; (In Recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13

  8. Amendment # 2026-1806h: AF DV 12-319 05/14/2026 HJ 13

  9. Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-1945h: MA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13

  10. FLAM # 2026-1945h (NT) (Rep. McDonnell): AA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13

  11. Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate

  12. Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1806h 05/04/2026 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 19 P. 21

  13. Executive Session: 05/04/2026 10:30 am GP 232

  14. Public Hearing: 03/30/2026 10:20 am GP 232

  15. Introduced (in recess of) 02/19/2026 and referred to Education Policy and Administration HJ 5 P. 127

  16. Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-0509s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 02/19/2026; SJ 4

  17. Sen. Fenton Floor Amendment # 2026-0846s, AF, VV; 02/19/2026; SJ 4

  18. Committee Amendment # 2026-0509s, AA, VV; 02/19/2026; SJ 4

  19. Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0509s, 02/19/2026, Vote 4-1; SC 6

  20. Hearing: 01/20/2026, Map Room, SL, 10:15 am; SC 46

  21. ==CANCELLED== Hearing: 01/13/2026, Map Room, SL, 10:00 am; SC 45

  22. Introduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Education; SJ 1

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 8 co-sponsors · 406 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (8)

Not signed on (406)

406 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 406 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

education
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 578 do?
(Second New Title) relative to play-based curriculum and limitations on recess periods for pupils.
Who sponsors SB 578?
SB 578 is sponsored by Victoria Sullivan (Republican), Raymond C. Peeples, Keith Murphy (Republican), Howard Pearl (Republican), Kevin Avard (Republican), Regina Birdsell (Republican), Sharon Carson (Republican), Kimberly A. Rice, and Lisa M. Freeman.
What is the current status of SB 578?
This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced November 25, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
Where can I track SB 578?
Track SB 578 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on SB 578

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of SB 578

Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →