Legislative Update

PRESS RELEASE: Sununu Signs Rural and Underserved Area Educator Incentive Program into Law 

CONCORD, NH – Today, Governor Chris Sununu signed HB 1079, which as amended includes the contents of SB 217-FN as passed by the House. 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 undeserved areas, as amended, it creates a similar incentive program and sets aside $1 with the goal of receiving an appropriation in the next state budget. Student debt assistance and additional support for early career educators is one recommendation contained in a legislative report issued last year that […]

PRESS RELEASE: Sununu Signs HB 1205, Blocks Access to School Sports for Students

CONCORD, NH – Today, Governor Chris Sununu signed HB 1205, which bans transgender girls from playing on girls’ sports teams in grades 5-12 and requires all girls to show a birth certificate – or “other evidence” – to be eligible to play. This law is effective 30-days after signature, so it will be in effect for the 2024-25 school year.  Megan Tuttle, President of NEA-New Hampshire, provided the following statement in response: “Public schools should be safe, welcoming environments for all students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Shame on Governor Sununu for signing into law this legislation that […]

PRESS RELEASE: Sununu Signs HB 1312, Dramatically Expands Curriculum Notice Requirement 

CONCORD, NH – Today, Governor Chris Sununu signed HB 1312, which dramatically – and vaguely – expands New Hampshire’s current 2-week notice requirement for “objectionable materials” to include any curriculum related to sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or gender expression. This law contains vague language as to how an educator may respond to a student who shares a concern with them at school and creates yet another unworkable standard that leaves educators wondering what course material could apply to the notice requirements that traditionally had been focused on sex education and health classes.   Megan Tuttle, President of NEA-New Hampshire, provided […]

A white sign held in front of the Legislative Office Building reads: Support Our Public Schools"

June 15, 2024: NEA-NH Legislative Update

2024 Legislative Session Ends with the Defeat of Final Voucher Expansion Bill On the final day of the 2024 legislative session, the New Hampshire House defeated HB 1665 by a vote of 168 -185. This legislation would have expanded the unaccountable private school voucher scheme by lifting the eligibility threshold to enter the program from 350% to 425% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). This was a compromise between the Senate position of expansion to 400% of FPL and the House position of expansion to 500% of FPL. As negotiated, the compromise version of this bill would have more than […]

NH House Rejects Bill to Expand School Vouchers, Public Education Advocates Praise Vote

Educators, Parents, Public School Advocates Celebrate Defeat of Bill to Expand School Vouchers from 350% to 425% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines CONCORD, NH – Today, the New Hampshire House voted against the Committee of Conference report on HB 1665-FN, the school voucher expansion bill, by a margin of 185-168, which defeated the bill. School voucher expansion is now dead for the legislative session. HB 1665 would have expanded eligibility for the state’s unaccountable school voucher program from 350% to 425% of the federal poverty level. Lawmakers had previously increased the eligibility, from the original 300%. Public education advocates celebrated the vote […]

June 2024: Government Relations Report

Legislative Session Ends with Mixed Results for Educators  This year’s session has seen mixed results at the State House. Coming off the heels of a successful year in working to pass increases in state aid that helped lead to negotiated pay increases for members, we looked to the second year to fend off attacks on the profession, further privatization efforts, and more attempts passing politically motivated culture war legislation that targets LGBTQ+ students. We also sought to make more headway in advancing proactive legislation that we hoped to help energize the pipeline of educators into the profession.  Unfortunately, the state […]