Yearly Archives: 2025

6/21/25: NEA-NH Legislative Update – House and Senate Agreement on State Budget, Ayotte Pledges Veto

House and Senate Agreement on Budget Package for a Final Vote; Governor Ayotte Threatens Veto This week, House and Senate Committee of Conference members reached an agreement on a final state budget proposal which will require a full vote from each chamber to approve it and send it to the governor. That said, Governor Ayotte announced shortly after negotiations were complete that she intends to veto the budget because it does not include her preferred retirement plan for Group II employees (police and fire) and it would result in a significant reduction in state aid to Manchester for schools.  Here are […]

6/14/25: NEA-NH Legislative Update – Universal Vouchers Now Law of the Land

Universal Vouchers Now Law of the Land; 500 Applications in the First Day  On Tuesday, Governor Kelly Ayotte signed SB 295 into law, eliminating income caps for the state’s unaccountable private school voucher program. We know limitless vouchers will take millions of dollars out of public schools to subsidize private education for a few at the expense of nearly 90% of students who attend community public schools. SB 295 took effect immediately; on just the first day of New Hampshire’s new universal voucher system, 500 applications were filed—a number constituting more than 10% of current voucher recipients.     Despite […]

PRESS RELEASE: Public Education Advocates Condemn Gov. Ayotte Signing Laws to Expand School Vouchers to Wealthy Families, Pass So-Called “Parental Bill of Rights” Targeting Educators, LGBTQ+ Students

New Hampshire cannot afford to expand unaccountable school vouchers to wealthy families at the expense of real needs in our state CONCORD, NH – Today, Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed into law SB 295, which expands unaccountable school vouchers to the wealthiest families in the state. Ayotte also signed into law HB 10, a so-called parental bill of rights that in reality targets educators and LGBTQ+ students and puts children at risk of abuse or harm. Public education and LGBTQ+ rights advocates, school leaders, and public school parents condemned the bill signings with the following statements: Megan Tuttle, President of NEA-NH, […]

PRESS RELEASE: Ayotte Signs SB 295: Bill Removes Income Cap for Private School Voucher Scheme, Takes More Public Money Away from Public Schools 

SB 295 Subsidizes Private Education for Wealthy Families While NH Property Taxpayers Struggle to Fill in Gaps for Inadequate State Public Education Funding  CONCORD, NH – Today, Governor Kelly Ayotte signed SB 295 into law. The bill eliminates income eligibility requirements for the state’s unaccountable private school voucher program and institutes a universal voucher scheme that will divert millions of public dollars from public schools to subsidize private education for wealthy families.   Megan Tuttle, President of NEA-New Hampshire, provided the following statement after the votes:  “All students deserve a high-quality education and the support they need to thrive. Unfortunately, expanding […]

6/6/25: NEA-NH Legislative Update – Universal Vouchers and “Parental Bill of Rights” Head to Governor

House and Senate Pass Universal Voucher and Parental Bill of Rights Legislation  In what was a very disappointing day at the New Hampshire legislature, the two most consequential bills that passed and will be headed to the Governor’s desk soon are SB 295 one of the universal school voucher expansion bills, and HB 10 the so-called “Parental Bill of Rights.”  Now it will be up to the Governor as we urge her to veto these bills that are an attack on public education in New Hampshire. Join us by calling Governor Ayotte at 603-271-2121 and asking her to veto SB […]

PRESS RELEASE: NH Senate Budget Prioritizes Handouts for Wealthy at the Expense of Kids 

CONCORD, NH – Today, the New Hampshire Senate voted 14-10 in support of a state budget proposal that would erode the foundation of public education in New Hampshire.   Megan Tuttle, President of NEA-New Hampshire, provided the following statement after the vote:  “Budgets are moral documents; they reveal the true priorities of those in power. Unfortunately, the New Hampshire Senate chose to turn its back on our students, families, and communities by advancing a budget that fails to fully fund public education while opening the floodgates for taxpayer-funded subsidies to private schools, regardless of family income.  Nearly 90% of New Hampshire’s […]