CONCORD, NH – Today, the New Hampshire Senate adopted HB 1300. As amended, this bill is the latest attempt by anti-public education lawmakers to arbitrarily cap school budgets. This bill next goes to the House for a vote to concur, non-concur, or request a Committee of Conference.
Today’s vote follows previous failed efforts to arbitrarily cap local school budgets, including HB 675 (which the House defeated in January) as well as annual school meeting votes across the state in March of 2026 and March of 2025 to cap local school budgets.
Megan Tuttle, President of NEA-New Hampshire, provided the following statement after the vote:
“Granite Staters care deeply about giving every student — in every community — access to a strong public education. New Hampshire voters already have the authority to place caps on local school budgets and taxes, and time and again they have chosen not to because they understand the real costs schools face, including rising utility expenses, health care costs, and the growing need for special education services.
The Senate’s vote to require every community to hold a mandatory tax cap vote this November moves our state in the wrong direction. Instead of supporting students and working to address New Hampshire’s broken and unequal school funding system, this legislation would further constrain local schools and make it harder for districts to meet the needs of their students.
Every Granite State student deserves access to the resources and opportunities they need to succeed, regardless of their ZIP code. HB 1300 locks in existing funding disparities that will widen the gap between communities and undermine the quality of education for students across New Hampshire.
If this bill reaches Governor Ayotte’s desk, we urge her to veto this harmful legislation and instead work with educators, families, and local communities on solutions that strengthen public education for all New Hampshire students.”
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