This bill allows New Hampshire parents to enroll their children in any public school in the state, regardless of where the family lives. It removes the requirement that children attend the school assigned to their resident district and makes all public schools "open enrollment" schools. The bill requires school districts to post school capacity information online, report on transfer applications, and establish policies for student transfers. Funding for students transferring to a different district will be based on the resident district's average cost per pupil, with potential additional costs borne by parents. The bill takes effect January 1, 2026.
HB 1820 shifts administration of New Hampshire's Education Freedom Account (EFA) program from scholarship organizations to the Department of Education. It requires the Department to directly transfer funds to parents for qualifying education expenses (like tuition, materials, or tutoring) for eligible students, replacing the previous system where scholarship organizations managed distributions. Parents must apply through the Department, agree to educational requirements (including assessments or portfolio reviews), and use funds only for approved expenses. Unused EFA funds roll over annually but revert to the education trust fund if not used by graduation or after misuse. This bill directly affects parents of K-12 students participating in the EFA program.
SB 430 requires school employees (like teachers) to respond honestly and completely to written requests from parents about their child's education within 10 business days. It directly affects parents seeking information and school staff who must provide it. The bill includes an exception: if full disclosure risks a student's immediate harm, staff must report to child welfare authorities within 48 hours and may withhold only that specific information. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, and requires the state board of education to update educator ethics rules by June 2027.
HB 1817 allows students who reside in a New Hampshire school district - regardless of whether they attend public, private, charter, or home education programs - to access all curricular courses and cocurricular activities (like clubs, sports, and arts) offered by that district. It requires school boards to adopt policies ensuring these students face no stricter rules than resident students in the district. The bill specifically affects home-educated students (including those with disabilities under certain conditions), private school students, and charter school students who live within a district but are not enrolled there. It does not change where students must attend school but guarantees equal access to local programs once they reside in a district.
HB 1708 reduces the statewide education property tax (SWEPT) rate for homeowners and property owners while increasing the business profits tax rate from 7.5% to 8.5% (with 40-44.2% of this revenue directed to the education trust fund). It sets specific annual revenue targets for the SWEPT - $346 million for 2026-2027, $284 million for 2027-2028, and $273 million annually thereafter - to maintain current education funding levels. Affected parties include residential property owners (who see lower taxes) and businesses (which pay higher profits taxes), with municipalities impacted by the tax shift receiving capped compensation up to $90 million. The bill ensures no net reduction in education funding by offsetting the SWEPT cut through increased business tax revenue.
This bill provides financial assistance to school districts in financial distress, defined as those where annual expenditures exceed available funding. It authorizes the state education commissioner to offer loans to such districts (with approval from a joint legislative committee) and establishes a revolving loan fund to help districts manage cash flow before receiving state adequacy payments. Municipalities can also provide emergency aid from existing funds, with repayment terms and oversight requirements, and the bill increases the maximum contingency fund contribution from 5% to 10% of a district's net assessment. These provisions aim to stabilize school district finances without altering special education funding exemptions.
HB 1792 prohibits New Hampshire public schools and staff from teaching critical race theory, LGBTQ+ ideologies, or specific identity-based pedagogies that the bill defines as promoting division or anti-constitutional views. It specifically bans practices like requiring students to identify "oppressors" based on race/gender, prioritizing identity over shared values, or affirming non-binary gender identities as normative. The bill creates a private right of action, allowing parents or students to sue schools for violations. It explicitly excludes factual, neutral instruction on history or events. The law aims to preserve "neutral or patriotic" education while restricting certain teaching methods deemed divisive.
HB 1832 adds students with at least one parent on active military duty (with a permanent change of station in New Hampshire) to the priority eligibility list for New Hampshire's Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs). This means military-connected students who relocate to New Hampshire due to their parent's active duty orders will now qualify for priority enrollment in the EFA program, alongside existing priority groups like low-income students. The bill amends eligibility criteria in RSA 194-F:1, adding a new category (d) specifically for these military families. It takes effect 60 days after passage and has an estimated fiscal impact of $150,300 in FY 2027 for approximately 30 additional eligible students.
HB 1561 prohibits non-U.S. citizens from the People's Republic of China (PRC nationals, including those with ties to PRC government entities) from attending New Hampshire's accredited public and private colleges and universities. It requires institutions to obtain notarized affidavits from all applicants and students confirming they are not PRC nationals, with affected individuals given 90 days to voluntarily withdraw after the law takes effect. Institutions failing to comply face daily $1,000 fines, while PRC nationals who refuse to withdraw face mandatory expulsion and potential federal referral. Violations by individuals or staff are classified as class A misdemeanors.
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.