allowing parents or guardians to admit their children into any school district where they pay any property or school district taxes.
HB 709 would allow parents or guardians to enroll their children in any New Hampshire public school district where they (the parents/guardians) pay property or school district taxes, regardless of the child's residence. This changes current rules by basing school attendance eligibility on where the parent pays taxes, rather than the child's or parent's physical address. The bill does not require school districts to provide transportation for students attending a district outside their usual attendance area. It takes effect on July 1, 2025, and applies to all school districts statewide.
Bill status
failed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Jan 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 22, 2025
Last action Mar 6, 2026
Floor votes · House Jan 7, 2026
How they voted
94–97
Passed · 32 other
Total votes 223
Jan 7, 2026
D
Democratic107
88% Nay
I
Independent2
50% Yea
R
Republican114
81% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
14
Key actions
5
Committee
5
Amendments
1
Mar 3, 2026
Committee
Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Vote 5-0; CC; 03/12/2026; SC 9
upper
Jan 30, 2026
Introduced
Introduced 01/29/2026 and Referred to Education; SJ 3
upper
Jan 7, 2026
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (94-97-32)
house
Jan 7, 2026
Lower · Passed
Ought to Pass with Amendment 2025-3073h: MA RC 182-159 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 144
lower
Jan 7, 2026
Introduced
Amendment # 2025-3073h: AA VV 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 143
lower
Nov 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
lower
Nov 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-3073h 11/05/2025 (Vote 11-7; RC) HC 51 P. 29
lower
Mar 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Retained in Committee
lower
Jan 22, 2025
Introduced
Introduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Education Policy and Administration HJ 3 P. 24
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
No sponsor information available.
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