HB208 Relative to certification requirements for school nurses.
Relative to certification requirements for school nurses.
Impact Score — How Does This Bill Affect You?
Overall Impact Score
Concerning
Scale: 1 (harmful) to 10 (beneficial)
Your Wallet
State loses $18,000 in annual licensing revenue; impact on local school district costs is indeterminate and not quantified.
Your Community
Effect on school health services and nurse availability is unknown; bill removes an educational credential requirement but does not clarify whether this improves or diminishes service quality.
Your Freedom
Local school boards gain discretion to hire nurses based solely on nursing licensure rather than state education certification, modestly expanding local hiring flexibility.
Status
Inexpedient to Legislate, Motion Adopted, Voice Vote === BILL KILLED ===; 01/07/2026; Senate Journal 1
Sponsor
Jess Edwards (R)
The Short Version
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.
Who's Behind This Bill?
Who Benefits
- ▲ School boards and superintendents (reduced certification requirement and administrative burden)
- ▲ Registered nurses without Department of Education certification who wish to work as school nurses
Who Pays the Price
- ▼ State Department of Education (loses $18,000 in annual licensing fee revenue)
- ▼ Currently certified school nurses if credential value is diminished
Bill statuses as of October 7, 2026. Check LegiScan or NH General Court for the latest.
This bill was auto-scored using AI analysis of the bill text and legislative data. Scores may be refined as we review more bills.