All NH Bills — Impact Scores

Bans teaching of CRT, LGBTQ+ topics, "Marxist analyses" — with $10K lawsuits and loss of teaching licenses.

TL;DR: Named after Charlie Kirk. Lets any parent sue a school for up to $10,000 and get a teacher's license revoked for teaching about systemic racism, LGBTQ+ identities, or anything deemed "identity-based ideology." Critics including the NH Attorney General's office argue the vague terms invite abuse and are unconstitutionally broad. Passed the House 184–164 and is now in the Senate.

See full impact analysis →

Commission to study converting ALL public schools to charter schools. Also lowers charter conversion threshold from 2/3 to simple majority.

TL;DR: Sponsored by House Majority Leader Osborne, who openly says it would make public education funding debates "go away." That's because it would eliminate traditional public schools entirely. The bill also sneaks in a change from 2/3 majority to simple majority for converting to charter, AND moves the vote from town meeting to the general election — where it's easier to pass with less community scrutiny. This is the free-state endgame: dismantle public education from the ground up.

See full impact analysis →

Redefines "cost of adequate education" to EXCLUDE school nurses and superintendent services.

TL;DR: A judge ruled the state underfunds education at ~$4,200/pupil — roughly half what it should be. Instead of increasing funding, this bill strips items from the list of what counts as "adequate." No school nurses in the state funding formula. No superintendent services. Also removes the requirement that the legislature review adequacy costs every 10 years. It's a backdoor way to keep funding low by redefining what schools need. Passed the House 10-8 on party lines and is now in the Senate.

See full impact analysis →

Statewide open enrollment — any student can attend any public school district, with funding following the student.

TL;DR: Sounds like "school choice" but here's what it actually does: any student can enroll in any district, and 80% of the per-pupil cost follows them. Small rural districts lose students (and funding) to larger, better-resourced districts — but still have to maintain buildings, bus routes, and staff for the students who remain. It's a death spiral for rural schools. And the receiving districts control capacity, meaning wealthy districts can cherry-pick while poor districts hemorrhage. Passed the Senate 16-8.

See full impact analysis →

Creates a "revolving loan fund" for struggling schools — but forces districts to open the door to universal vouchers.

TL;DR: Marketed as help for cash-strapped districts like Claremont, this bill lets struggling schools borrow up to 75% of their state education aid — but the catch is poisonous. Any district that takes the loan must allow ALL parents in the district to obtain Education Freedom Accounts regardless of income. It's predatory lending meets voucher expansion: here's money you desperately need, but the price is opening the door for your funding to be drained away permanently.

See full impact analysis →

Restricts school flags to US, state, POW/MIA, military, and town flags only. Fines up to $1,000 for violations.

TL;DR: This is a Pride flag ban dressed up as patriotism — and it's now law. Sponsored by Rep. Lisa Freeman (R-Tilton), schools can't display any flag outside the approved list — no Pride flags, no cultural heritage flags, nothing. Violations escalate from warnings to Board of Education fines of $1,000. The message to LGBTQ+ students: you're not welcome here. Takes effect September 2026. They passed this while killing funding for crumbling school buildings.

See full impact analysis →

Requires schools to post policies on "authorized" materials and create formal complaint processes for parents.

TL;DR: Would have created a formalized pipeline for book challenges and material complaints. Every district would have had to adopt and publicly post which materials are "authorized," and establish a complaint process for parents who think materials are "harmful to minors" or "offensive." Killed when the Senate voted non-concur — but the infrastructure for organized book-banning campaigns came back stronger in SB 434.

See full impact analysis →

Prohibits public schools from performing surgical procedures or prescribing pharmaceutical drugs.

TL;DR: Schools don't perform surgery. Schools don't prescribe drugs. This is a solution in search of a problem — almost certainly targeting trans-related healthcare fears, school-based health clinics, or school nurses administering medications. Sponsored by Rep. Kristin Noble (R-Bedford), it passed 183–155, which tells you it's about politics, not policy. If it were actually about something real, it would've been unanimous. Now in the Senate.

See full impact analysis →

Forces public colleges to allow firearms and weapons on campus. Eliminates all campus carry restrictions.

TL;DR: Strips UNH, Plymouth State, Keene State, and all public colleges of the ability to set their own firearms policies. Sponsored by Rep. Sam Farrington (R-Rochester) and called the "Protecting College Students Act" — Orwellian naming at its finest. University presidents opposed it. No permit required. Parents, students, and faculty had no say. This is now law. It makes campuses less safe and overrides local institutional control, which is ironic from the "local control" crowd.

See full impact analysis →

Eliminates the default budget mechanism — if a warrant fails, the previous year's budget just rolls over.

TL;DR: Under current law, when a budget warrant fails, a "default budget" accounts for contractual obligations and adjustments. This bill would have eliminated that safety valve — if the warrant fails, schools simply get last year's exact budget with no adjustments for new contracts, cost increases, or enrollment changes. Killed unanimously in committee (18-0 ITL), but it reveals the intent: punish schools for any budget vote that doesn't go the way anti-education forces want.

See full impact analysis →

Repeals the NH Council on Autism Spectrum Disorders.

TL;DR: Eliminates the state council that coordinates healthcare, education, and services for people with autism — a body created by the legislature in 2008. While this isn't directly an "education" bill, the council's work includes educational support and policy recommendations for students on the spectrum. Removing it strips away an advocacy body for some of the most vulnerable students. Passed 178–155.

See full impact analysis →

Lets parents enroll kids in any district where they pay property taxes.

TL;DR: If you pay property taxes in multiple towns (e.g., own a vacation home), your kids could attend school in any of those towns. On its face, this sounds like open enrollment — but it could drain resources from smaller districts. The committee unanimously recommended killing it (5-0 Inexpedient to Legislate), so even the legislature thought this was a bad idea. Dead.

See full impact analysis →

Allows school districts to retain year-end unassigned funds with new requirements.

TL;DR: Would have let districts keep leftover funds so schools don't lose money for being efficient. However, the "new funds and voting requirements" and the restriction to "unusual circumstances" added bureaucratic hurdles. Killed unanimously in committee (18-0 ITL). The idea had merit but the implementation was problematic.

See full impact analysis →

Increases appropriations for school building aid grants for construction and renovation.

TL;DR: This was the one genuinely good bill — and they killed it. Sponsored by Rep. Michael Cahill (D-Rockingham), NH's schools are aging and many districts have waited years for building aid that never came. HB 366 would have increased state funding for school construction/renovation and set aside money for previously approved projects that went unfunded. Passed the House 195–155 with bipartisan support, then the Senate killed it on March 5. Let that sink in: the legislature passed a WEF conspiracy ban and a Pride flag ban into law, but killed funding for crumbling school buildings.

See full impact analysis →

Would have required the state to actually fund adequate education as courts have ordered.

TL;DR: The bill that actually tried to solve the problem — and was killed for it. Rep. Dick Ames introduced legislation requiring the state to fund an adequate education at the levels courts have said are constitutionally required. The Education Funding Committee voted it down 10-8 on party lines. The House killed it 185-159. Courts say the state owes more. The legislature says no. That's the whole story.

See full impact analysis →

Consolidates all 107 SAUs into 12 county-based units with elected superintendents.

TL;DR: Would have slashed NH's 107 School Administrative Units down to 12 county-based SAUs, eliminated superintendents, and replaced them with elected "chief school administrators." Sounds like efficiency, but county-based districts would be massive and unresponsive to local needs. Making the top administrator an elected position politicizes school leadership. Referred to interim study, which means it's dead for now but the concept will return.

See full impact analysis →

Requires mandatory hunting, wildlife management, and firearms education in all high schools.

TL;DR: Would have required every high school in the state to teach mandatory courses on hunting, wildlife management, and firearms handling. Joint Board of Education/Fish & Game Commission curriculum. While outdoor education has value, making firearms training mandatory in schools — while simultaneously banning teaching about systemic racism (HB 1792) — tells you exactly what this legislature thinks children should and shouldn't learn. Killed in committee.

See full impact analysis →

Relating to the right to educate children.Providing that parents and guardians have a right to direct the education of their children.

TL;DR: This is a proposed constitutional amendment that would add a new right allowing parents and legal guardians to direct their children's education. It requires voter approval in November 2026 and does not specify what 'direct the education' means or how it interacts with existing public education law, leaving its practical effects unclear.

See full impact analysis →

Relating to morality and piety. Providing that town, parishes, bodies corporate, or religious societies may elect and contract with teachers.

TL;DR: This constitutional amendment would establish a right for towns, parishes, and religious societies to elect and contract with their own public teachers, and would grant Protestant Christian denominations additional religious protections in the state constitution. The amendment privileges Christian denominations over other religions and could create legal complexity around public education funding and teacher oversight.

See full impact analysis →

Making best interest placements within the same school district mandatory in the absence of a valid reason to deny the placement.

TL;DR: This bill makes it mandatory for school superintendents to approve student reassignment requests within the same school district unless specific requirements are not met, and requires written explanations for denials. It shifts decision-making power from administrators toward parents seeking school choice within their district.

See full impact analysis →

Requiring students in the university and community college systems of New Hampshire to pass the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services civics naturalization test, take a course that covers fundamental American documents as part of the general education curriculum, or pass a civics course competency test.

TL;DR: Starting July 1, 2027, students in NH's university and community college systems must pass the federal civics naturalization test (score 70+), complete a civics course on American documents, or pass a civics competency test to graduate. The bill exempts certain groups and creates an estimated $100K-$500K annual cost to implement testing platforms and potentially new coursework.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to school district financial requirements and district probation processes.

TL;DR: This bill strengthens financial oversight of NH school districts by requiring timely audits, imposing penalties for non-compliance, allowing the state board to place districts on probation for fiscal mismanagement, and empowering the state to hire an administrator to oversee failing districts. It shifts more authority from local school boards to state education officials.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to the definition of the term "evidence-based" within public education.

TL;DR: This bill establishes a legal definition of 'evidence-based' for teaching methods in NH schools, requiring studies to show reproducibility or independent confirmation across disciplines while excluding surveys and self-reported data. It mandates the Department of Education and all school districts document and publicly share the scientific studies backing their pedagogical methods, with unclear costs to implement statewide.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to certification requirements for school nurses.

TL;DR: This bill eliminates the Department of Education certification requirement for school nurses, allowing superintendents and school boards to appoint nurses who hold only a state nursing license. The change reduces state licensing revenue by approximately $18,000 annually but has indeterminate impacts on school district costs and nurse availability.

See full impact analysis →

Making school building aid program funds nonlapsing.

TL;DR: This bill makes funds appropriated to New Hampshire's school building aid program nonlapsing, meaning unspent appropriations will carry over to future fiscal years instead of reverting to the state treasury. This allows school districts to access committed aid funding across multiple years, potentially enabling more flexible project timelines and better planning for school construction.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to the right of intercollegiate student-athletes to earn compensation through the use of their name, image, or likeness.

TL;DR: This bill allows intercollegiate student-athletes at NH's 4-year colleges to earn money from endorsements using their name, image, or likeness, while prohibiting compensation from alcohol, gambling, tobacco, weapons, and certain other industries. It represents a significant shift in athlete compensation rights that aligns NH with the national trend toward athlete compensation.

See full impact analysis →

Granting the department of education rulemaking authority to require candidates to obtain passing scores on professional education assessments.

TL;DR: This bill requires all teacher, administrator, and educational specialist candidates in New Hampshire to pass professional education assessments to obtain state licensure, with a narrow waiver option for CTE teachers. The bill grants the Department of Education rulemaking authority to set the specific assessments and passing scores.

See full impact analysis →

Establishing a commission to study the costs of special education.

TL;DR: This bill establishes a commission to study the costs of special education in NH public schools, including referral patterns, service gaps, funding mechanisms, and Medicaid reimbursement practices. The commission will report findings and recommendations by July 2026, with no immediate changes to special education funding or services.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to terms of appointed members on the higher education commission.

TL;DR: This bill removes language requiring that Higher Education Commission members remain in office 'until a successor is appointed and qualified,' instead allowing members' terms to end after 5 years regardless of whether a replacement has been named. The practical effect is unclear without knowing current practices, but it could allow Commission seats to sit vacant for periods of time.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to the composition of the board of recount in elections for the select board and for the school board.

TL;DR: This bill prohibits candidates for select board and school board positions from serving on recount boards when they appear on the ballot being recounted, and establishes formal procedures for how recounts must be conducted. It aims to prevent conflicts of interest during election recounts.

See full impact analysis →

Establishing a committee to study alternative funding methods for public education and how to reduce its reliance on local real estate property taxes.

TL;DR: This bill creates a legislative study committee to examine how New Hampshire funds public education and explore ways to reduce reliance on local property taxes. The committee will report findings and recommendations by November 1, 2025, but this bill itself makes no immediate changes to school funding or tax policy.

See full impact analysis →

Establishing a commission to study due process in higher education disciplinary proceedings.

TL;DR: This bill creates a temporary study commission to examine due process protections in disciplinary proceedings at New Hampshire public colleges and universities, focusing on whether students, faculty, and student organizations receive adequate notice, fair hearings, and impartial decision-makers before serious sanctions. The commission will report findings and legislative recommendations by November 2026, then dissolve.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to the cost of an opportunity for an adequate education, extraordinary need grants, fiscal capacity disparity aid, and determination of education grants.

TL;DR: This bill restructures NH's education funding formulas beginning July 2026, increasing the per-pupil cost of adequate education from $4,100 to $4,351 and establishing a new fiscal capacity disparity aid program to help lower-wealth districts. It also adds a $3,750 cap on combined targeted aid for larger districts. The full fiscal impact is unknown because the Department of Education has not yet provided required budget projections.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to cooperative school district school board elections.

TL;DR: This bill requires that representatives on cooperative school district boards must be elected only by voters within their pre-existing district and must reside in that district. It standardizes board election procedures statewide by July 1, 2026, limiting board terms to 3 years and requiring non-partisan ballots.

See full impact analysis →

Modifying the base cost and differential aid costs of an adequate education.

TL;DR: This bill significantly increases state education funding by raising the base per-pupil cost from $4,100 to $7,356 and increasing supplemental aid for low-income students, English language learners, and special education students. The state fiscal note estimates this will cost approximately $630.6 million in FY 2026, funded through the Education Trust Fund with potential general fund coverage for any deficit.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to eligibility for free school meals.

TL;DR: This bill expands free school meal eligibility from the current federal threshold (130% of poverty guidelines) to 300% of federal poverty guidelines, potentially covering approximately 50% of NH's student population. The state would fund the expansion through the education trust fund at an estimated cost of up to $48 million annually, with implementation beginning July 1, 2025.

See full impact analysis →

Limiting total central office administrative expenses by school districts and requiring reporting of central office administrative expenses to the department of education.

TL;DR: This bill caps central office administrative expenses at 6% of school district budgets (effective July 1, 2026) and requires districts to report these expenses to the state. School districts seeking to exceed this cap must pass appropriations by a 2/3 vote rather than a simple majority.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to the composition and responsibilities of the parent and education service provider advisory commission, and establishing education freedom account impact and parent satisfaction surveys.

TL;DR: This bill expands the Parent and Education Service Provider Advisory Commission from 7 to 9 members, requires it to review education service provider appeals and make legislative recommendations, and establishes two new surveys—one asking parents why they left public schools and one measuring parent satisfaction with education freedom accounts. The bill creates minimal direct cost but shifts administrative responsibility and data collection without addressing underlying resource questions.

See full impact analysis →

Making an appropriation to the department of education for an attorney to recodify education laws.

TL;DR: This bill appropriates $100,000 from the education trust fund to hire an attorney to review NH's education laws (RSA 186-200-N) and identify duplicative, contradictory, or consolidatable statutes by September 30, 2025. The bill funds a one-time audit and reporting project with no direct impact on school services or student outcomes.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to the state education property tax and the low- and moderate-income homeowners property tax relief program.

TL;DR: This bill significantly expands NH's low- and moderate-income property tax relief program by raising income thresholds (from $37k to $65k for single filers), increasing the property value cap used in calculations (from $220k to $165k assessed value), and raising the maximum annual rebate to $1,100. It also changes how education tax revenue flows directly to the state education trust fund rather than municipalities, and requires clearer notification of tax relief eligibility on property tax bills.

See full impact analysis →

Allowing parents to send their children to any school district they choose.

TL;DR: This bill eliminates residency-based school assignment, allowing parents to enroll their children in any public school across New Hampshire. Schools can only deny transfers for expulsion, serious discipline/chronic absenteeism, or lack of capacity, and must publish enrollment data and capacity information monthly.

See full impact analysis →

Requiring catastrophic special education state aid funding to be drawn from the education trust fund.

TL;DR: This bill eliminates the requirement that special education funding be prorated when insufficient, instead mandating full payment by drawing from the education trust fund and ultimately the general fund if needed. It would increase special education aid by an estimated $16.4 million or more annually starting FY 2026, fully funding catastrophic special education costs for school districts rather than sharing shortfalls proportionally.

See full impact analysis →

Establishing a local education freedom account program.

TL;DR: This bill allows school districts in NH to establish local education freedom account programs, enabling parents of eligible students (ages 5-20) to receive grants from scholarship organizations to pay for educational expenses at public, charter, nonpublic schools, tutoring, and other approved education services instead of attending their resident district public school full-time. Participating students remain counted in district membership but would no longer attend full-time, creating winners among families seeking alternatives and potential fiscal pressures on districts losing per-pupil funding.

See full impact analysis →

Establishing a foundation opportunity budget program for funding public education.

TL;DR: This bill replaces New Hampshire's current school funding formula with a new 'foundation opportunity budget' system that aims to equalize education funding across wealthy and poor districts by setting outcome-based adequacy standards and capping local property tax obligations at inflation-adjusted 2023 levels. The state would cover the gap between local contributions (capped at 52% statewide average) and full funding needs, potentially requiring significant new state revenue.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to aid to school districts for the cost of special education.

TL;DR: This bill guarantees that school districts qualify for at least 80% of their entitled catastrophic special education funding in any given year, rather than having all funding prorated equally when state appropriations fall short. It also establishes a permanent funding stream from the education trust fund to cover these obligations, with automatic transfers from the general fund if needed.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to possession of firearms on school property.

TL;DR: This bill prohibits firearms on all public school property (buildings, grounds, buses) with limited exceptions for authorized personnel and those transporting firearms in vehicles. It also requires any armed guards employed by schools to meet normal hiring qualifications including criminal background checks. Violations are class A misdemeanors.

See full impact analysis →

Establishing the right to provide educational instruction in municipally zoned and non-zoned areas.

TL;DR: This bill prohibits municipalities from using zoning ordinances to restrict small-group educational instruction ("learning pods") in any residential or other zoned area. It overrides local zoning authority to allow such instruction anywhere within a municipality, potentially affecting how towns manage residential character, noise, traffic, and use of single-family neighborhoods.

See full impact analysis →

Granting the state board of education rulemaking authority relative to student use of cell phones and personal communication devices in schools.

TL;DR: This bill grants the state board of education authority to adopt statewide rules governing student cell phone use in schools. It requires school districts to prohibit personal device use during instructional time, with exceptions for medical needs, disabilities, and language support—shifting policy-setting from local school boards to state-level rulemaking.

See full impact analysis →

Enabling municipalities and school districts to hold such elections on the day of the state primary.

TL;DR: This bill allows New Hampshire towns and school districts to hold their local elections on the same day as the state primary (starting September 2028), while keeping other meetings separate. The state will reimburse municipalities and schools for the direct costs of running these combined elections.

See full impact analysis →

Including domestic violence prevention as a wellness subject to be taught to pupils.

TL;DR: This bill requires New Hampshire schools to teach domestic violence prevention as part of their mandatory health, physical education, and wellness curriculum. The bill expands existing curriculum requirements to explicitly include this topic alongside related subjects like sexual violence prevention and substance abuse education.

See full impact analysis →

Modifying the priority of applications for school building aid grants.

TL;DR: This bill removes priority funding status for school construction projects that were previously underfunded and for projects with critical safety needs, instead treating all applications equally based on merit criteria. The change could delay repairs to unsafe school facilities and buildings with critical deficiencies while newer applications compete for limited state grant funding.

See full impact analysis →

Enabling school districts to adopt partisan school district elections.

TL;DR: This bill allows individual NH school districts to vote on whether to adopt partisan (party-based) ballot elections for school board races, instead of the current statewide non-partisan system. The change is optional and reversible by each district, but it shifts school board elections toward party-line voting.

See full impact analysis →

Authorizing superintendents or their designee to allow limited use of personal laptops and tablets in schools and establishing that such use is exempted under school cell phone use policies.

TL;DR: This bill allows school superintendents to exempt personal laptops and tablets from cell phone use policies when used for specific educational purposes under direct teacher supervision. It clarifies that such devices can be used in schools while maintaining the existing prohibition on general cell phone use during instructional time.

See full impact analysis →

Repealing the home education advisory council.

TL;DR: This bill eliminates the home education advisory council and removes the requirement that the state board of education submit proposed homeschooling rules to that council for review and comment before finalizing them. Homeschooling families will lose a formal channel to review and comment on regulations affecting their education programs.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to post-secondary education opportunities for inmates.

TL;DR: This bill allows the NH Department of Corrections commissioner to release incarcerated people from state prison to attend post-secondary education programs in their communities, with judicial and prosecutorial oversight for those not yet parole-eligible. Time spent in education counts as time served toward their sentence.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to the mathematics requirement for high school graduation.

TL;DR: This bill requires all high school students to complete 4 mathematics courses for graduation, eliminating the previous option to substitute one math course with a non-math CTE course containing embedded math. The change takes effect for the 2027-2028 school year and may increase costs for school districts, though the fiscal impact is uncertain and will vary by district.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to parental notice for non-academic surveys in public schools.

TL;DR: Requires schools to notify parents before administering non-academic surveys to students, such as those about mental health, behavior, or family life. Balances parental rights to know what their children are being asked with schools' need to identify at-risk students.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to child safety at school bus stops.

TL;DR: This bill requires school districts and bus operators to locate bus stops and conduct operations so students do not cross traffic lanes when boarding or exiting. It aims to reduce student safety risks at bus stops by eliminating crossing requirements, with a 60-day implementation timeline.

See full impact analysis →

Establishing a commission to review draft rules related to minimum standards for public school approval and state academic standards developed by the department of education.

TL;DR: This bill creates a commission of school administrators, teachers, and curriculum experts to review and approve all new state education rules before they take effect. The commission must complete reviews within 120 days and recommend rules supporting competency-based education, research-based practices, and accountability standards.

See full impact analysis →

Allowing the governing bodies of municipalities, cities, and towns to review and approve school budgets.

TL;DR: This bill allows NH school districts to vote to shift budget approval authority from voters to city councils or town governing bodies. If adopted by a district, the city council would gain power to approve school budgets, though voters would still vote on a yes/no budget proposal that cannot be amended.

See full impact analysis →

Directing the commission to study costs of special education to consider establishing centralized locations throughout the state for certain special education-related services.

TL;DR: This bill extends a state commission studying special education costs and adds a new research question about whether centralized regional locations could reduce costs for special education staffing while keeping students in mainstream classrooms. It delays the commission's scheduled repeal by one year to allow this additional study.

See full impact analysis →

Increasing the requirements of the education freedom savings account oversight committee and modifying the purpose of the committee.

TL;DR: This bill expands the oversight committee for New Hampshire's Education Freedom Savings Account program to review student data, eligibility, and spending, and requires monthly public meetings with live broadcasts and recorded documentation. The changes increase transparency and legislative scrutiny of the EFA program's operations and fiscal impact.

See full impact analysis →

Providing an option for each candidate's party affiliations to be printed on the town or school district ballot.

TL;DR: Would allow party affiliations to be printed on town and school district ballots, which are traditionally nonpartisan. In Senate hearing; could politicize local elections.

See full impact analysis →

Establishing a commission to study public school open enrollment.

TL;DR: Would establish a commission to study allowing students to attend public schools outside their district. Only has minority committee support, suggesting the majority opposed studying open enrollment.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to enabling school administrative units to adopt budget caps.

TL;DR: Would enable school administrative units to adopt spending caps, potentially limiting school budget growth. Narrowly sent to interim study 175-164.

See full impact analysis →

Establishing a statutory commission to study the development of a statewide comprehensive civics curriculum.

TL;DR: Would have created a commission to develop a statewide comprehensive civics curriculum, strengthening civic education in NH schools. Killed via ITL.

See full impact analysis →

Enabling towns, village districts, or school districts to adopt or rescind a local fiscal accountability committee for towns and schools.

TL;DR: Gives towns and school districts the option to create or dissolve local fiscal accountability committees that oversee spending. This provides a voluntary mechanism for increased financial transparency and oversight at the local level.

See full impact analysis →

Removing the authority of the education freedom accounts scholarship organization to make decisions about certain educational expenses.

TL;DR: Strips the Education Freedom Account scholarship organization of its authority to approve or deny certain spending categories. This could give EFA families more spending flexibility but reduces oversight over how public education funds are used.

See full impact analysis →

Establishing a committee to investigate the department of education's actions regarding school administrative unit 6.

TL;DR: Would have created a committee to investigate specific Department of Education actions regarding SAU 6 (Claremont area). The bill was killed, preventing legislative scrutiny of the department's conduct in this matter.

See full impact analysis →

Requiring schools to establish rules related to the display of flags and designate students at each school to serve as the school's color guard.

TL;DR: Would have mandated schools create flag display rules and designate student color guards. The bill was killed, as schools can already establish such programs voluntarily without a state mandate.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to the statute of limitations for bringing a private right of action for violation of the statute prohibiting medical procedures and treatments intended to alter a minor's gender, authorizing the application of sunscreen in schools and camps without a licensed health care provider's note or prescription, and establishing a skin cancer prevention education program.

TL;DR: Extends the statute of limitations for lawsuits against healthcare providers who provided gender-affirming care to minors. Passed the House 180-146 and advances to the Senate. This builds on existing restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors.

See full impact analysis →

Repealing the public school identification and accommodation of gifted and talented students reporting requirement.

TL;DR: Removes the requirement for public schools to report on how they identify and accommodate gifted and talented students. The Senate committee recommended killing this bill 4-0.

See full impact analysis →

Enabling citizens in a municipality to vote to require that a financial audit of the local school district take place.

TL;DR: Would have allowed town voters to mandate a financial audit of their school district. The bill was killed, though the concept of citizen-initiated audits supports fiscal transparency.

See full impact analysis →

Making an appropriation to the Claremont school district for costs associated with a building renovation project from the revenue stabilization reserve account.

TL;DR: Would appropriate state funds to help the Claremont school district with a building renovation project, using money from the revenue stabilization (rainy day) fund. The minority committee supported the bill with an amendment.

See full impact analysis →

Amending the meaning of scholarship organization as it pertains to education freedom accounts.

TL;DR: Changes the definition of which organizations can administer Education Freedom Accounts. This could alter who manages the EFA program and how scholarship funds are distributed, potentially expanding or restricting eligible administrators.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to credentials for the position of superintendent of schools.

TL;DR: Addresses credential requirements for school superintendents, potentially strengthening or weakening qualifications needed for this critical leadership position. The bill was tabled 184-150.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to credentials for the position of school business administrator.

TL;DR: Addresses credential requirements for school business administrators, who manage district finances and operations. The bill was tabled 196-152, shelving the proposed changes.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to the display of flags in schools and compliance with the federal flag code.

TL;DR: Would have required schools to comply with federal flag code for flag displays. The bill was killed, as most schools already follow standard flag display protocols voluntarily.

See full impact analysis →

Limiting the authority of a municipality, county, or school district to issue bonds.

TL;DR: Would have restricted the ability of municipalities, counties, and school districts to issue bonds for capital projects. Killed overwhelmingly 234-112, as it would have hampered communities' ability to fund schools, roads, and infrastructure.

See full impact analysis →

Limiting times vaccine clinics may operate at schools, with certain exceptions.

TL;DR: Limits when vaccine clinics can operate in schools and requires parental presence during child vaccinations. While parental involvement is reasonable, restricting clinic hours reduces access to convenient, free vaccinations for working families.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to parent-taught driver education as an alternative to traditional driver education programs.

TL;DR: Would have allowed parents to teach driver education instead of requiring certified programs. Killed 178-155 due to safety concerns, as professional driver education has been shown to reduce teen crash rates.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to student school board members.

TL;DR: Would have addressed the role of student representatives on school boards, potentially giving students a formal voice in education governance decisions that directly affect them. Killed via ITL voice vote.

See full impact analysis →

Repealing the legislature's declaration of authority over public education.

TL;DR: Would repeal the legislature's formal declaration of authority over public education, potentially shifting more control to local school boards or the executive branch. Only received minority committee support.

See full impact analysis →

Extending services for students with an individualized education plan for the purpose of vocational support.

TL;DR: Extends vocational support services for students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), helping students with disabilities transition from school to employment. Early in the legislative process.

See full impact analysis →

Requiring scholarship organizations to provide written notice to parents explaining the parents' requirement to provide written notice upon termination of a home education program.

TL;DR: Would have required Education Freedom Account scholarship organizations to notify parents about their obligations when ending homeschool programs. Killed via ITL voice vote. A transparency measure for the EFA program.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to health education and requiring pupils to view certain videos demonstrating gestational development of the heart, brain, and other vital organs.

TL;DR: Would have required students to watch specific videos about fetal organ development as part of health education. Killed via ITL. This mandates ideologically-driven content in the curriculum under the guise of health education.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to additional grounds for eviction under the landlord and tenant statute, relative to the responsibility of local school districts to provide meals to students during school hours, and reimbursing schools for meals provided to students at no cost and making an appropriation therefor.

TL;DR: Adds new grounds for landlord evictions under NH tenant law. Passed House 193-154 with amendment, now in Senate Judiciary. During NH's housing crisis, expanding eviction grounds makes it easier for landlords to remove tenants.

See full impact analysis →

Requiring schools to provide a minimum amount of time for recess per day.

TL;DR: Would have required schools to provide minimum daily recess time for students. Killed via ITL voice vote. Research consistently shows recess improves academic performance, physical health, and social development in children.

See full impact analysis →

Allowing municipalities to hold a vote to prevent their residents from receiving education freedom account vouchers.

TL;DR: Would have allowed towns to vote on opting out of the Education Freedom Account voucher program, giving local communities control over whether public education funds flow to private schools. Killed via ITL voice vote.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to reporting and transparency reports for the education freedom account program.

TL;DR: Would require transparency reporting for the Education Freedom Account program, letting taxpayers and legislators see how voucher funds are being spent. Only received minority committee support despite being a basic accountability measure.

See full impact analysis →

Clarifying the definition of home education.

TL;DR: Would have clarified the legal definition of home education in New Hampshire. Killed via Inexpedient to Legislate, suggesting the current definition was deemed adequate.

See full impact analysis →

Requiring a logic and critical thinking course within the state high school education curriculum.

TL;DR: Would have required logic and critical thinking courses in New Hampshire high school curricula. Killed via Inexpedient to Legislate, likely due to concerns about state mandates on local curricula and implementation costs.

See full impact analysis →

Defining the term "evidence-based" related to public education and in teacher preparation programs.

TL;DR: Establishes a legal definition of "evidence-based" for use in public education policy and teacher preparation programs. Currently in House committee. Aims to ensure education practices are grounded in rigorous research.

See full impact analysis →

Requiring the department of education to collect and publish data regarding the costs associated with providing special education services to students of public, charter, private, trade, and other K-12 schools or academies.

TL;DR: Would have required the Department of Education to collect and publish comprehensive data on special education costs across all types of schools. Referred for interim study. Special education spending is one of the fastest-growing school costs.

See full impact analysis →

Modifying the state average expenditure per pupil relative to students in special education.

TL;DR: Would have modified how the state calculates per-pupil spending for special education students, likely increasing the state's share of special education funding. Killed on a party-line division vote (184-157).

See full impact analysis →

Prohibiting nationals of the People's Republic of China from enrollment in masters and doctorate degree programs, participation in research, and full time employment at public institutions of higher education.

TL;DR: Would have banned Chinese nationals from graduate programs, research, and employment at NH public universities. Killed on a division vote (157-173). This discriminatory proposal would have harmed UNH's academic programs and violated equal protection principles.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to the penalty for false reports of suspected abuse and neglect made to the division for children, youth, and families, relative to owner's project manager services for school building aid projects, and relative to long-term care eligibility and making an appropriation therefor.

TL;DR: Strengthens penalties for people who make knowingly false reports of child abuse and neglect to DCYF. Currently in Senate committee after overwhelming House support (reconsideration failed 18-311). False reports waste resources and traumatize families.

See full impact analysis →

Requiring the department of education to review statewide academic standards and curricula.

TL;DR: Requires the Department of Education to conduct a comprehensive review of statewide academic standards and curricula. Currently in Senate Education committee. Regular standards review ensures NH education keeps pace with best practices.

See full impact analysis →

Adds definitions and reporting requirements relative to education freedom accounts.

TL;DR: Would have added transparency and reporting requirements to Education Freedom Accounts (school vouchers), including definitions of eligible expenses. Tabled on a party-line vote (182-162), preventing the transparency measures from advancing.

See full impact analysis →

Establishing a committee to study methods for increasing revenues to enable additional spending on education.

TL;DR: Would have created a study committee to explore new revenue sources for increased education spending. Referred for interim study. NH school funding has long been a contentious issue with heavy reliance on property taxes.

See full impact analysis →

Allowing the commissioner of the department of education to withhold funds from public schools if such schools are not providing special education services in compliance with state law.

TL;DR: Would have given the Education Commissioner power to withhold funding from schools not complying with special education law. Killed via Inexpedient to Legislate. While aimed at compliance, withholding funds from already struggling schools could harm the students it's meant to protect.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to the collection of certain health care program premiums; funding for the university system of New Hampshire; and raising the tobacco tax.

TL;DR: An omnibus bill that would have raised the tobacco tax to fund university system improvements and healthcare program premium collections. Killed on a party-line vote (200-157). Combined multiple policy goals into one bill.

See full impact analysis →

Requiring the secretary of state to create a voter education program that includes information on recent changes to voting laws.

TL;DR: Requires the Secretary of State to create a voter education program informing residents about recent changes to voting laws. Currently in Senate committee. This ensures voters aren't surprised by new requirements at the polls.

See full impact analysis →

Requiring suitable public facilities such as schools and town halls be made available as polling places upon request by local election officials.

TL;DR: Requires schools and town halls to be made available as polling places when local election officials request them. Currently in Senate committee. Ensures accessible, centrally located polling places are available for all communities.

See full impact analysis →

Requiring charter schools to have uniform and transparent billing costs and practices for special education services.

TL;DR: Would require charter schools to adopt uniform and transparent billing for special education services. Currently, charter schools may bill sending districts inconsistently for special education, making it hard to track how public funds are spent.

See full impact analysis →

Requiring schools to provide excused absences for certain religious instruction, defining released time courses, and permitting schools to adopt policies and provide credit for released time courses.

TL;DR: Would require schools to grant excused absences for religious instruction and allow academic credit for released-time religious courses. Raises church-state separation concerns by potentially crediting religious education within public school systems.

See full impact analysis →

Modifying the requirements of suicide prevention education policies in schools.

TL;DR: Modifies requirements for suicide prevention education policies in NH schools. With youth suicide being a leading cause of death among young people, updating these requirements could improve how schools identify and respond to at-risk students.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to consent for school billing purposes.

TL;DR: Addresses consent requirements for school billing purposes, likely related to Medicaid billing for special education services. Schools often bill Medicaid for eligible services, and this bill would adjust parental consent requirements in that process.

See full impact analysis →

Permitting towns to unilaterally withdraw from a cooperative school district.

TL;DR: Would allow individual towns to unilaterally withdraw from cooperative school districts without the approval of other member towns. This could destabilize regional school systems and leave remaining towns with disproportionate financial burdens.

See full impact analysis →

Adding a definition for rules relative to innovation schools.

TL;DR: Would add a definition of 'rules' as it applies to innovation schools in NH. This is a technical legislative clarification aimed at providing clearer regulatory guidance for the innovation school framework.

See full impact analysis →

Establishing a teacher bill of rights.

TL;DR: Would establish a 'teacher bill of rights' codifying specific protections and rights for NH educators. Amid a severe teacher shortage, this could help attract and retain teachers by ensuring workplace protections and professional respect.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to prohibiting state Medicaid payments to facilities that discriminate against employees, students, or trainees for exercising lawful medical or religious vaccine exemptions.

TL;DR: Would cut state Medicaid payments to healthcare facilities that require employee vaccinations without honoring medical or religious exemptions. This could threaten Medicaid funding for hospitals and nursing homes, potentially reducing care for vulnerable patients.

See full impact analysis →

Requiring schools to present line-item expenses as part of the school budget process.

TL;DR: Would require schools to present detailed line-item expenses during the budget process, giving taxpayers more granular information about how education dollars are spent. Increases transparency and public accountability in school spending.

See full impact analysis →

Expanding the circumstances where the restraint is permitted in schools and treatment facilities and modifying the definition of seclusion.

TL;DR: Would expand when physical restraint can be used on children in schools and treatment facilities, and modify the definition of seclusion. Current restrictions on restraint and seclusion exist to protect children from harm and trauma.

See full impact analysis →

Adding a non-voting student member to the state board of education.

TL;DR: Would add a non-voting student member to the NH State Board of Education, giving students a voice in education policy decisions that directly affect them. Many states include student representatives on their education boards.

See full impact analysis →

Reestablishing the New Hampshire college graduate retention incentive partnership program and making an appropriation therefor.

TL;DR: Would reestablish and fund a program to incentivize NH college graduates to stay in the state after graduation. NH faces a severe brain drain as young graduates leave for states with more job opportunities and lower costs.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to statewide education property taxes and other tax revenues.

TL;DR: Would reform the statewide education property tax (SWEPT) and other revenue sources for education funding. NH has been under court orders to fix its unconstitutionally inequitable education funding system, and SWEPT reform is central to that effort.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to charter conversion schools.

TL;DR: Addresses charter conversion schools, which are existing public schools that convert to charter school status. This could affect governance, funding, and accountability for schools that choose to convert.

See full impact analysis →

Authorizing the state to issue bonds to fund public school expenses.

TL;DR: Would authorize state bond issuance to fund public school expenses, providing a dedicated funding mechanism for school infrastructure and operations. Killed via Inexpedient to Legislate vote.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to the academic accountability of education freedom accounts.

TL;DR: Would require academic accountability measures for Education Freedom Account recipients, ensuring public funds used for private schooling produce measurable educational outcomes. Killed on a party-line ITL vote 194-166.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to the creation of an educational opportunities information system.

TL;DR: Would create a statewide information system to catalog educational opportunities available to NH students and families. Killed via Inexpedient to Legislate voice vote.

See full impact analysis →

Requiring higher educational institutions to report the reception of foreign grants, donations, and contracts to the department of education and the general court.

TL;DR: Would require NH colleges and universities to report foreign grants, donations, and contracts to state authorities, increasing transparency around foreign influence in higher education. Referred for interim study.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to prohibiting the use of personal identity ideology in public school instruction and policies.

TL;DR: Would ban the teaching of 'personal identity ideology' in NH public schools, restricting what educators can discuss about gender identity and related topics. Killed via ITL voice vote.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to child support obligations during postsecondary education.

TL;DR: Would modify child support obligations when children are attending postsecondary education, potentially extending or adjusting support during college years. Killed via ITL voice vote.

See full impact analysis →

Modifying the statewide education property tax.

TL;DR: Would modify the statewide education property tax (SWEPT), which is NH's primary mechanism for funding public education across the state. Referred for interim study.

See full impact analysis →

Directing the department of education to establish a grant program at the post-secondary educational level for individuals with developmental disabilities, and making an appropriation therefor.

TL;DR: Would create a state grant program to help individuals with developmental disabilities access post-secondary education, expanding opportunity for a vulnerable population. Killed ITL 187-157.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to statewide education property taxes.

TL;DR: Would modify the statewide education property tax system, potentially addressing inequities in how education is funded across NH municipalities. Referred for interim study.

See full impact analysis →

Rendering a recipient of an education tax credit scholarship ineligible to receive education freedom account funds in the same program year.

TL;DR: Would prevent students from receiving both education tax credit scholarships and Education Freedom Account funds in the same year, addressing double-dipping from public education funding. Killed ITL 191-157.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to the list of revoked or suspended educator licenses maintained by the department of education.

TL;DR: Would improve the Department of Education's tracking and publication of revoked or suspended educator licenses, enhancing student safety transparency. Killed via ITL voice vote.

See full impact analysis →

Establishing the position of academic research and improvement performance data analyst in the department of education and making an appropriation therefor.

TL;DR: Creates a data analyst position in the Department of Education to track academic performance and guide school improvement efforts. Passed committee unanimously 7-0.

See full impact analysis →

Requiring the department of education to use its 10-year school facilities plans to plan and project out building consolidation projects.

TL;DR: Directs the Department of Education to use existing 10-year facilities data to identify and plan school building consolidation opportunities. Passed committee unanimously 4-0 on consent calendar.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to review of education freedom account service providers.

TL;DR: Would have established a review process for providers who receive Education Freedom Account funds to ensure quality and accountability. Killed by the House via voice vote.

See full impact analysis →

Requiring the department of education to administer the education freedom account program.

TL;DR: Would transfer administration of the Education Freedom Account program from the private Children's Scholarship Fund to the state Department of Education for greater public accountability. Tabled on a party-line vote.

See full impact analysis →

Requiring every school, school district, and school administrative unit to produce independent audits and financial reports to be posted publicly and sent to the department of education and the department of revenue administration.

TL;DR: Mandates independent financial audits for all schools and districts, with results posted publicly and sent to state agencies. Aims to increase transparency and accountability in how education dollars are spent.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to school district financial distress.

TL;DR: Would have created a framework for identifying and assisting school districts in financial distress before they reach crisis. Failed on a 151-180 vote, with the majority opposing.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to the cost of an opportunity for an adequate education.

TL;DR: Would have revised how NH calculates the cost of providing an adequate education, a central issue in the state's longstanding Claremont school funding cases. Killed on a 192-157 party-line vote.

See full impact analysis →

Requiring the department of education to establish an auditing process relative to teacher preparation programs at the post-secondary educational level.

TL;DR: Directs the Department of Education to audit college-level teacher preparation programs to ensure they produce effective educators. Currently in Senate Education committee.

See full impact analysis →

Modifying the definition of persistently dangerous schools.

TL;DR: Would have changed the criteria for designating a school as 'persistently dangerous,' which triggers mandatory transfer options for students. Killed via voice vote.

See full impact analysis →

Requiring firearm safety education in all public schools.

TL;DR: Would have mandated firearm safety education in all NH public schools. Killed via voice vote. In a state with high gun ownership, proponents argued safety education saves lives.

See full impact analysis →

Repealing the education trust fund targeted aid cap.

TL;DR: Would remove the cap on targeted education aid from the Education Trust Fund, potentially increasing state funding for schools that serve the highest-need students. Tabled on a party-line vote.

See full impact analysis →

Adding students with a parent or guardian on active military duty to the education freedom accounts priority guidelines.

TL;DR: Gives priority access to Education Freedom Accounts for children of active-duty military personnel. Passed the House and is in Senate committee, recognizing the unique educational challenges military families face with frequent relocations.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to the education freedom account enrollment cap.

TL;DR: Would have imposed an enrollment cap on the Education Freedom Account program to limit the diversion of public education funds. Tabled on a party-line vote 180-157.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to the formula for distribution of aid to school districts.

TL;DR: Would have revised the state aid distribution formula to direct more resources to school districts based on need. Killed via voice vote.

See full impact analysis →

Declaring the directives of the judicial branch in the Claremont cases that the legislative and executive branches define an "adequate education," adopt "standards of accountability," and "guarantee adequate funding" of a public education are not binding on the legislative and executive branches.

TL;DR: Declares that the NH Supreme Court's landmark Claremont decisions requiring the legislature to define and fund adequate education are not binding. Would effectively reject the court's authority on education funding, a foundational issue in NH politics.

See full impact analysis →

Encouraging state colleges and universities to invite more conservative speakers to campus for the purpose of increasing diversity of viewpoints.

TL;DR: A non-binding resolution encouraging NH public universities to invite more conservative speakers to promote viewpoint diversity on campus. Passed 191-155 on a party-line vote.

See full impact analysis →

Requesting the opinion of the justices clarifying the scope of the state's constitutional obligations concerning education.

TL;DR: Would have asked the NH Supreme Court to clarify the state's constitutional obligations regarding education funding, revisiting the scope of the Claremont decisions. Killed via voice vote.

See full impact analysis →

Urging the legislature to adequately fund public education.

TL;DR: A resolution urging adequate funding for NH public education, addressing the state's longstanding underfunding of schools. Only received a minority committee report, indicating the majority opposed even this non-binding call.

See full impact analysis →

Recognizing the Manchester school district's community partners.

TL;DR: Would have recognized organizations partnering with Manchester schools to support students. Killed via voice vote, despite being a simple recognition resolution.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to parental consent for student participation in Medicaid to schools program.

TL;DR: Requires parental consent before students can participate in the Medicaid-to-Schools program, which reimburses schools for health services. Passed on party-line vote 186-155.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to establishing an alternative driver education program.

TL;DR: Would have created an alternative pathway for driver education beyond traditional classroom courses. Referred to interim study for further examination.

See full impact analysis →

Authorizing parents to enroll their children in any public school in the state.

TL;DR: Allows parents to enroll children in any public school statewide, creating open enrollment. Also creates an exemption from recording consent requirements under the parental bill of rights. In House Education committee.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to the responsibility of local school districts to provide meals to students during school hours, reimbursing schools for meals provided to students at no cost, and making an appropriation therefor.

TL;DR: Would have required school districts to provide meals to students at no cost during school hours, with state reimbursement. Killed by a close 183-161 ITL vote. Would have ensured no NH child goes hungry at school regardless of family income.

See full impact analysis →

Requiring local school boards and public libraries to adopt curation policies.

TL;DR: Would have required school boards and public libraries to adopt formal curation policies for their collections. Aimed to establish transparent standards for material selection and review processes.

See full impact analysis →

Relative to biological sex in student athletics.

TL;DR: Would restrict student athletic participation based on biological sex. This controversial measure targets transgender students' ability to participate in school sports consistent with their gender identity.

See full impact analysis →