Four bills became law Tuesday, led by a pair of measures affecting how school districts handle federal money and cash flow. One bill addressing guardian ad litem reports in family court died, and two high-profile bills cleared procedural hurdles in the Senate.
Signed into Law
Education and school finance
- HB 656 — Clarifies the authority of local school districts to accept federal grant funding, which covers programs including special education and Title I assistance.
- HB 1495 — Allows school districts to use reimbursement anticipation notes as collateral, giving districts more flexibility to manage cash flow while waiting for state education payments.
Environment and transportation
- SB 595 — Updates rulemaking authority for transient non-community water systems such as campgrounds, gas stations, and restaurants that operate their own wells.
- SB 499 — Revises the membership, duties, and reporting requirements of the state traffic safety commission.
Killed
- HB 1643 — A bill addressing how guardians ad litem file reports in family court proceedings died today. GALs serve as court-appointed representatives for children in custody and abuse cases.
On the Move
- HB 1442 — A bill that would restrict facility access based on biological sex and redefine “gender identity” in state law moved to active status after Senate consideration.
- HB 1252 — A bill requiring commercial driver’s license tests be given only in English, with no interpreter assistance permitted, advanced after passing the House 194-156.
- HB 1195 — A measure modifying municipal zoning requirements for child day care providers moved forward in the Senate; it would make it easier to operate childcare facilities in residential zones.
- HB 1576 — A bill strengthening enforcement of court-ordered criminal restitution payments to crime victims advanced in the Senate.
- HB 1563 — Legislation reforming the special education aid formula and state oversight of special education funding moved in the Senate Education Finance committee.
Notable Votes
HB 1252, the English-only CDL testing bill, passed the House 194-156 — a margin of 38 votes. HB 656 on federal grant authority passed 186-155, and HB 1495 on school district cash-flow collateral passed 185-162, both relatively close margins.
To see how your state legislators voted on these bills, visit nhpolitics.org/find-your-rep.