Education (School Safety)

in committee · New Hampshire · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 658: authorizing the department of education to establish a safe and resilient schools advisory council.

SB 658 establishes a Safe and Resilient Schools Advisory Council within New Hampshire's Department of Education to develop voluntary school safety guidelines. The council, including education officials, police, mental health experts, disability advocates, and parent representatives, will create training on trauma-informed discipline, neurodivergent student support, crisis response, and classroom accommodations. It must review existing programs and submit recommendations by November 2026, with annual updates, while a dedicated fund (using state, federal, and private resources) will support implementation. The bill directly affects schools choosing to adopt these voluntary guidelines to improve student behavioral health and reduce exclusionary discipline.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes advisory council to develop voluntary safety guidelines, trauma-informed discipline training, and neurodivergent student support, enhancing student programs and school environment in K-12 education.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Special Education Student Health

Track

died · New Hampshire · House Feb 27, 2026

HB 1034: relative to possession of firearms on school property.

HB 1034 prohibits individuals from knowingly possessing firearms on public school property, including buildings, grounds, and school buses, with violations classified as class A misdemeanors. Exceptions include parents transporting firearms in vehicles while dropping off/delivering students, law enforcement officers, and personnel specifically authorized by a school board after a public hearing and background check. The bill also bans public schools from hiring "armed guards" whose sole role is security, requiring any armed personnel to meet standard employment background checks. This affects all public schools and charter schools in New Hampshire, directly impacting school staff, parents, and security personnel.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProhibits firearms on school property to enhance safety, aligning with protective measures for educational environments and student well-being.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety

Track

failed · New Hampshire · House Mar 5, 2026

HB 1645: adding a definition for rules relative to innovation schools.

HB 1645 defines "Rules" for innovation schools as administrative rules and related state laws, specifically excluding RSA 194-E:8. It requires that safety-related rules and laws under this chapter (covering student and school safety) cannot be waived. This bill directly affects innovation schools in New Hampshire by clarifying terminology and preventing exemptions for safety regulations. The key change is prohibiting waivers for safety rules, ensuring consistent application of safety standards. The bill takes effect 60 days after passage.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationPrevents waivers of safety rules in innovation schools, reinforcing safety standards without altering funding or curriculum.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety

Track

failed · New Hampshire · House Feb 12, 2026

HB 1055: granting the state board of education rulemaking authority relative to student use of cell phones and personal communication devices in schools.

HB 1055 requires school boards and charter school boards to create annual policies prohibiting student cell phone and personal communication device use during instructional time (from the first bell to dismissal), with exceptions for medical devices, disabilities (as defined in IEPs or 504 plans), or language support needs. The bill grants the state board of education authority to establish rules governing these school policies under RSA 541-A. It directly affects all public and charter schools, students, and school administrators by mandating specific device-use restrictions and requiring collaboration with parents and teachers in policy development. The law aims to standardize device policies while ensuring accommodations for students with documented medical, disability, or language learning needs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates policies to restrict cell phone use during instruction, aiming to reduce distractions and support focused learning environments in schools.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice School Safety

Track

failed · New Hampshire · House Feb 12, 2026

HB 1830: requiring firearm safety education in all public schools.

HB 1830 requires all New Hampshire public schools to provide annual firearm safety education to students in grades K-12 as part of health, physical education, or civics classes. The training must be age-appropriate - focusing on avoidance and reporting for grades K-5, and expanding to safe handling, storage, and legal responsibilities for grades 6-12 - using dummy firearms or multimedia resources (no live weapons). Parents may opt their children out under existing procedures, and school districts must report compliance annually to the state. The bill mandates the Department of Education to develop the curriculum by 2027 but provides no state funding, relying instead on grants and external resources.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates age-appropriate firearm safety education in K-12 curriculum, enhancing student safety programs within educational framework95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education School Safety

Track

failed · New Hampshire · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 1077: including domestic violence prevention as a wellness subject to be taught to pupils.

HB 1077 requires New Hampshire public schools to include domestic violence prevention education within the existing health, physical education, and wellness curriculum for all students. It amends state law to explicitly mandate that school boards teach this topic alongside other health subjects like substance abuse prevention and HIV education. The bill directly affects all K-12 pupils in New Hampshire public schools by adding this specific content to required classroom instruction. This policy change focuses on integrating prevention education into standard health curricula without altering other existing requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates inclusion of domestic violence prevention in required health curriculum, expanding mandated educational content for K-12 students.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates domestic violence prevention in health curriculum, advancing public health education as part of healthcare policy90% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education School Safety Substance Abuse

Track

failed · New Hampshire · House Mar 5, 2026

HB 1688: expanding the circumstances where the restraint is permitted in schools and treatment facilities and modifying the definition of seclusion.

HB 1688 expands when schools and treatment facilities may use physical restraint on students, allowing it only when there is an imminent risk of bodily harm to a child or others. It modifies the definition of "seclusion" by adding a new exception: temporarily isolating a child alone to help them regain self-control (if they can leave the area and no barriers exist). The bill removes the previous requirement that restraint must address "substantial" harm, lowering the threshold to "imminent risk" of harm. Restraint must still be a last resort after other interventions fail, used only by trained staff. The bill directly affects students in schools and treatment facilities and the staff who implement these practices.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationExpands restraint use by lowering threshold from 'substantial' to 'imminent risk,' potentially increasing student restrictions85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health

Track

failed · New Hampshire · Senate May 14, 2026

SB 433: establishing the seizure safe schools act.

SB 433, the "Seizure Safe Schools Act," requires New Hampshire public, charter, and private schools to train at least two staff members per school (by the 2026-27 school year) to recognize seizures and administer FDA-approved seizure rescue medication. It mandates parental consent for medication use, including written authorization, healthcare provider documentation, and individualized "seizure action plans" for students with seizure disorders. Schools must store medication securely and provide 75 minutes of training every two years for relevant staff on seizure recognition and first aid. The law applies only to schools with students requiring FDA-approved seizure medication, ensuring protocols align with medical guidelines while protecting trained staff from liability.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires seizure safety protocols and medical access for students, directly protecting educational access and safety in schools per bill's mandate.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates seizure response protocols in schools, improving access to emergency care for students with seizure disorders through trained staff and individualized plans.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety

Track

signed · New Hampshire · Senate Jun 24, 2026

SB 507: establishing a committee to study violence in schools directed at staff members and the obstacles to disciplining or expelling students in such circumstances.

SB 507 limits school districts' financial responsibility for continuing education services for students expelled due to assaulting school staff. It requires districts to cover only the average per-pupil cost for such students, rather than full educational expenses. The bill does not change expulsion rules or relieve parents of their obligation to educate their children. This applies specifically to students expelled for assault against staff and takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesLimits school district spending by capping financial obligation to average per-pupil cost for expelled students, reducing government expenditure on education services.92% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill limits school districts' financial obligation for expelled students' education, reducing required spending from full per-pupil costs to average costs, directly restricting district funding responsibility.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding School Safety Student Health