2024 Legislative Session
The 2024 legislative session was unlike any other for education in the state of New Hampshire. It was marked by a record number of education bills filed by the legislature, an attempt to expand the state school voucher program, the resurrection of some of the past's most controversial legislation, the introduction of new legislation, and a continued attempt to address school funding.
Read our Legislative Updates from throughout the session here.
All school voucher expansion legislation was killed
Efforts to pass a universal program open to all school-aged children in New Hampshire failed this year. On the last day of the session, the New Hampshire House voted down HB 1665 with a vote of 168-185. This bill would have expanded the school voucher program by raising the income threshold to qualify from 350% to 425% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). The proposed threshold was a compromise in a committee of conference between the Senate's suggestion of 400% of FPL and the House's suggestion of 500% of FPL.
Earlier in the session, efforts to pass a universal program open to all school-aged children in New Hampshire failed this year. The Senate also attempted to pass its own version of voucher expansion, SB 442, which would have expanded eligibility to about 50% of students, but this bill was killed in early May.
School funding
Two school funding bills were heavily debated this session but ultimately killed. First, HB 1583 would have been a modest funding increase for public schools, sending about $62 million to high-need schools in the state. Second, it would have increased state funding for special education. HB 1656 would have increased state funding for special education by an estimated $12 million. Both bills were sent to interim study, so they can’t be passed this year.
Teaching profession
This session, the legislature passed HB 1079, which will establish the rural and underserved area educator incentive program. It has yet to be signed by the governor, but if signed, it would set the groundwork for a state-level educator incentive program.
There were bills killed in both the Senate and House that would have allowed uncertified individuals to teach in public schools. SB 374 and HB 1298 would have allowed individuals without a teaching license or certification to teach in public school classrooms as long as they teach less than 30 hours per week. There were no educational or experience requirements — there isn’t even a requirement that the individual has a high school diploma or equivalent.
Sununu Signs harmful bills HB 1312 and HB 1205
Over the past couple of weeks, Governor Sununu signed two controversial bills into law. HB1312 requires parental notification of student health or well-being and certain curricula by school districts. HB1205 relative to women’s school sports.
House fails to pass school meal expansion
In this session, an attempt was made to expand eligibility for free school meals. House Speaker Sherman Packard (R-Londonderry) cast the tie-breaking vote to table HB 1212 in April. The bill would have increased the income threshold to 350% of the federal poverty guideline, which is the income limit for participation in the state’s school voucher program. According to NH Department of Education estimates, it would have fed about 37,000 students.