Press Releases

While the bill as filed set aside $3 million over two years to create and fund a student loan forgiveness program for educators who work in rural and underserved areas, as amended, this bill sets aside $1. The bill next goes to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

Today, the New Hampshire House of Representatives cast a series of mixed votes on three bills that would expand education voucher eligibility in our state.

This week, the New Hampshire House Education Committee split 10-10 on five bills that would dramatically expand our state’s voucher program.

Today, the New Hampshire Senate passed SB 374 on party lines, 14-10. The bill would create the status of a “part-time” teacher in state law and would eliminate state board of education credentialing requirements for any teacher who works less than 30 hours a week.

Today, the New Hampshire Senate voted 13-11 in support of SB 442, which would expand our state’s private school voucher program and undermine the state manifest hardship exemption. SB 442 next goes to the Senate Finance Committee for further consideration.

Before the hearings, Granite Staters overwhelmingly signed in to oppose voucher expansion efforts:

At the time of the public hearing, 887 individuals had signed in to oppose “Right-to-Work”; 29 individuals had signed in to support HB 1377.

At the time of the hearing, 256 individuals had signed in to oppose HB 1206; 7 individuals signed in to support HB 1206.

New Hampshire’s voucher program launched in 2021 and permits families to use taxpayer funds to pay for tuition for costs associated with private schools, homeschool, and other non-public school options.

Student debt assistance is one recommendation contained in a recently released legislative report that identified contributing factors to New Hampshire’s teacher shortage and outlined findings to address the crisis.