New Hampshire Lawmakers Return to Concord for Convening Day
This week, the New Hampshire House and Senate returned to Concord for Convening Day, which kicks off the 2026 Legislative Session. Their first order of business was acting on roughly 200 bills there were retained from last year, including 67 public education related bills. Next, we move on to new proposals. We know our policy work will be primarily defensive in nature this year, driven by continued attacks from anti-public education and anti-union politicians. Click here to learn about NEA-New Hampshire’s legislative priorities for 2026 and hear from President Megan Tuttle about why our unity, our vigilance, and our collective action is more important than ever.
Good News - HB 675 Goes Down with Bipartisan Opposition
In good news this week, the House of Representatives killed HB 675, the mandatory statewide school budget cap. The defeat came after a series of changes to the bill, which was ultimately amended by a bipartisan group of lawmakers in an attempt to take a more measured and targeted approach to school budget restrictions aimed at central office administration costs. This, however, was not enough for the House Majority Leader, Jason Osborne, and his team and the result was that the entire bill was voted “Inexpedient to Legislate.”
I want to be clear—this victory was a direct result of NEA-NH members and pro-public education supporters reaching out to their state representatives to urge them to protect local control and reject the statewide budget cap. We hope you will take the time to look at this roll call and thank all the state representatives who voted to YES on amendment 2026-0042h (adopted by a vote of 182-173) to protect student education in the wake of unrelenting ideological pressure.
Bad News - Other Major Anti-Public Education Bills Did Pass
On the other side of the coin, the House and Senate passed several anti-public education bills that will now go to the other chamber for further action. Here are few key ones we will be providing updates for when they have their next step:
- School District Takeover Authority – A rushed amendment to HB 121 would give the NH State Board of Education the ability to appoint an administrator to rule over a school district under certain circumstances, some of which are extremely vague. This bill passed the House and will now head to the Senate where it will eventually receive a public hearing.
- Ill-Advised Bullying Overhaul – As amended, HB 131 would completely overhaul the state bullying statute. Former Rep. Cordelli attempted this identical change twice before and was rejected each time. This bill proposes changing the definition of bullying, creating one-size-fits-all disciplinary requirements, and instituting licensure penalties that put educators at risk. This bill passed the House and will now head to the Senate where it will eventually receive a public hearing.
- Another Book Ban Bill – Despite Governor Ayotte’s veto of one book ban bill last year, the House of Representatives passed another book ban this week—SB 33. As amended, the bill sets up a process we’ve seen in other states that could result in books being banned from schools on a very subjective basis. Further, SB 33 as amended threatens educators with penalties for running afoul of the bill. This bill passed the House and will now head back to the senate where they will decide whether to concur with the changes, non-concur (killing the bill), or to request a Committee of Conference to iron out differences between the two versions passed by each chamber.
First Full Week of Hearings Begin!
The first public hearings on legislative proposals begin next week. You can find information about all the bills NEA-NH is tracking on our website; below, please find information about the priority bill hearings we’re asking members to weigh in on.
HB 1793 – Prohibits Restriction of Firearms and Other Weapons on Public Universities
Every student in New Hampshire deserves a welcoming and safe learning environment, free from the fear of gun violence in their school or community. But HB 1793 would prohibit public colleges and universities from establishing any rules or policies that restrict the possession, carrying, or storage of firearms or certain non-lethal weapons on campus. A blanket prohibition on regulating weapons like this compromises the safety of our members and their students.
Please SIGN IN to OPPOSE HB 1793 before this anti-public safety measure faces a public hearing in the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee on January 14 at 10:00am. Please find step-by-step instructions to sign in below.
HB 1788 – New Attempt at Prohibition on Diversity Programs Doesn’t Fix the Law
Last year, NEA-New Hampshire and a coalition of organizations and individuals sued and successfully obtained an injunction in federal court over the state’s passage of a ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion “related initiatives, programs, training, or policies” in the public sector and in public education. HB 1788 fails to fix any of the concerns that informed our lawsuit. In fact, this bill expands the penalty section of the law for educators and schools, adding violations of this vague statute to be violations of the Educator Code of Conduct, and once again threatening educator licenses. The bill also adds additional language about investigations and commands state courts to declare any contract made that contains such vaguely defined provisions to be void.
Please SIGN IN to OPPOSE HB 1788 before the public hearing on Thursday, January 15 at 10:00am so members of the House Executive Departments and Administration Committee know they should repeal this entire unconstitutional law rather than expand it. Please find step-by-step instructions to sign in below.
Additional Bill Hearings Next Week
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Monday, January 12
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House Education Policy and Administration Committee
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10:30 am: HB 1628 - requires schools to provide excused absences for certain religious instruction, defining released time courses, and permitting schools to adopt policies and provide credit for released time courses - OPPOSE
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House Ways and Means Committee
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1:00 pm: HB 1409 - modifying the deposit of revenues collected from video lottery terminals - SUPPORT
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Wednesday, January 14
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House Health and Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee
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10:30 am: HB 1719 - This bill removes Hepatitis B from the list of diseases for which childhood immunization is required - OPPOSE
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Thursday, January 15
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`House Education Funding Committee
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11:30 am: HB 1557 - modifying the state average expenditure per pupil relative to students in special education - SUPPORT
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NEA-NH Action Center
Most of the tools and information you need to be a legislative advocate for public education are right at your fingertips through NEA-New Hampshire. Check out our NEA-NH Action Center to get all the information you need about issues we’re tracking at the State House, how to communicate with your lawmakers, and how to take action on specific bills.
Questions?
If you have questions on any of these bills or ones not mentioned here, please feel free to contact Brian Hawkins, NEA-NH Director of Government Relations at [email protected].
Need help signing in on legislation? Follow these comprehensive instructions (details for public hearings are contained in each action request).
For House bills:
1. Visit this link: https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/committees/remotetestimony/default.aspx
2. Enter your personal information
3. Select the hearing date
4. Select the committee
5. Choose the bill
6. I am - A member of the public
7. Choose who you are representing - Myself
8. Indicate your position on this bill
9. Upload remote testimony (Optional)
10. Review information and click submit
For Senate bills:
1. Go to https://bit.ly/3S4Cof1 and click the date that the bill you are interested in is being heard
2. Select the committee that is hearing the bill
3. Select the bill you are interested in
4. Select a category – Member of the Public
5. Indicate your position on this bill
6. Click continue
7. Enter your name and contact information
8. Click continue
9. Carefully review the information to ensure it is entered correctly. If it is correct, check the box and click continue.
