Who deserves protection?

February 17th, 2026

Notes from the Margins:

In last Tuesday’s Senate Education committee hearing, committee members got into a heated debate over the amount of privacy owed to vendors who receive money through Education Freedom Accounts. You can watch the back-and-forth here. Sen. Sullivan called out some online comments directed toward EFA-funded providers, and a  representative from the Children’s Scholarship Fund  – NH, which administers the program, asked: “do you give the crazies oxygen, or do you not?”

The argument that education providers shouldn’t be listed on a website because of potential public backlash felt like a stark contrast to the scrutiny many pro-EFA lawmakers have been putting on teachers. A house committee voted last week to advance the “CHARLIE” Act, which would allow parents or others to file civil lawsuits against teachers for teaching “LGBTQ+ ideologies.” (The bill was voted out of committee despite the 1271 people who submitted testimony in opposition, far outnumbering the 353 who signed in in favor.)   

Recall that in 2021, Moms for Liberty offered a financial reward for people who reported teachers who were teaching “divisive concepts.” HB 1699, the so-called teachers bill of rights, describes a teacher’s right to a safe workplace environment, free from administrative retaliation, but says nothing about the right to online safety or the right to be free from retaliation from political groups. (HB 1699 largely echoes “teacher bill of rights” legislation from other states, where it has been used primarily as a level to increase student discipline. The bill’s sponsor acknowledged that she had not spoken to any teachers about the bill.)

In a 2024 survey, Reaching Higher NH asked teachers what their biggest concerns were about the future of the profession. Nearly two-thirds of respondents cited the increased demands on educators as a top concern. Thirty percent called out concerns about increasing consequences for educators, and twenty percent were concerned about the level of support from elected officials. When asked if they felt supported by elected officials, only 17% agreed or strongly agreed, with 20% strongly disagreeing and another 25% disagreeing. It is not surprising teachers don’t feel supported, when lawmakers are standing up for the rights of EFA providers but not for the rights of teachers (or at least, not the rights teachers care about).

What’s coming up this week

There are fewer hearings this week, as House Committees focus on making decisions on early bills. A few key bills we’re watching:

Tuesday:

• The Senate Education Committee will hear SB 574, which would create a commission to study the efficiency of SAUs and the possibility of SAU consolidation

• The House Education Funding Committee will make decisions on a number of bills, including:

  • HB 1099, which would create a committee to study the possibility of contracting with private companies for special education services

  • HB 1288, which would allow for SAU budget caps 

  • HB 1578, which adds reporting requirements for EFAs

  • HB 1579, which would create a committee to study options for increasing revenue for education aid

• The House Election Law Committee will hear HB 1125, which would introduce partisan school board elections (a similar bill was vetoed by the governor last year)

Wednesday:

• The House Education Funding Committee will hold another executive session, planning to make decisions on many bills including:

  • HB 1121, which attempts to define the cost of an adequate education

  • HB 1815, which addresses the court’s decision on adequate education funding (read more from the NH School Funding Fairness Project here)

• The House Education Policy Committee will hear HB 1280, which would establish a commission to study open enrollment

• The House Ways & Means Committee will make decisions on HB 1787 and HB 1800, two bills that attempt to address education funding

Thursday:

• Both the House and Senate will hold floor sessions. Key bills we’re watching:

  • In the House:

    • HB 1557, which would modify the state average expenditure for special education

    • HB 1563, which would change the special education aid formula

    • HB 1574, which would extend eligibility for free lunch for students with IEPs through age 22

    • HB 1799, which would increase state education funding

    • HB 1831, which would repeal the targeted aid cap

    • HB 1835, which would change the education aid distribution formula

    • HB 1571, which would require NH Department of Education to review academic standards

    • HB 1792, the so-called “CHARLIE Act”

  • In the Senate:

    • SB 430, which would require teachers to respond to an inquiry from a parent in writing within 10 days

    • SB 434, which requires school boards to create a process for parents to protest materials provided in schools

    • SB 532, which adds requirements for the EFA oversight committee

    • SB 533, which would require the state to regularly re-bid the contract for the EFA program

    • SB 576, which adds reporting requirements for the EFA program

    • SB 578, which would extend recess for grades k-8

Friday:

• House Education Policy will hear CACR 24, a constitutional amendment that would declare that parents have the constitutional right to direct the education of their children