Committee Summary for House Education Funding (03/03/2026)

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
HB1121 0808H 00:57:43.357 - 12:57:49 PM	Executive Session	defining the cost of an adequate education.	Ladd, Rick(R)[B+]2025
HB1288 0883H 01:27:43.357 - 1:27:49 PM	Executive Session	relative to enabling school administrative units to adopt budget caps.	Vose, Michael(R)[A-]2025
HB1807 1004H 02:07:23.055 - 2:07:29 PM	Executive Session	relative to information on tax rates and tax impact information on warrant articles.	Peternel, Katy(R)[A]2025
HB1816 0983H 02:22:23.055 - 2:22:29 PM	Executive Session	relative to the intervention of the department of education into a school or school district during a financial emergency.	Ladd, Rick(R)[B+]2025
HB1824 02:36:16.728 - 2:36:22 PM	Executive Session	relative to school district financial distress.	Damon, Hope(D)[CT]2025

HB1121 0808H: Representative Flad Support00:57:43.357 - 12:57:49 PM; Moves for OTP on HB 1121, emphasizing the importance of defining resource elements for the base cost of adequate education based on average cost per pupil, noting amendments will be brought forward.
HB1121 0808H: Representative McGuire Support00:57:43.357 - 12:57:49 PM; Moves amendment 0808H, explains it simplifies language by listing resource elements directly without nurses (added by mistake), removes ineffective legislative revisit mandates as law can't enforce them, allows future changes by legislature.
HB1121 0808H: Representative Ames Information Only00:57:43.357 - 12:57:49 PM; Asks if amendment means items not listed, like nurses, can't be added without legislative change; clarifies that schools can have nurses but costs won't be in adequacy formula, affecting state funding.
HB1121 0808H: Representative Ladd Information Only00:57:43.357 - 12:57:49 PM; Notes existing law in RSA 193-E:2-B(II) requires periodic review every 10 years of resource elements.
HB1121 0808H: Representative Luno Oppose00:57:43.357 - 12:57:49 PM; Points out amendment eliminates Roman numeral II; cautions that changes to RSA 193-E:2-A (like adding personal finance literacy) might require resource updates, but no wiggle room in amendment.
HB1121 0808H: Representative Papagiannis Support00:57:43.357 - 12:57:49 PM; Explains changes to resources can be made via HB2 annually; list is a snapshot, changeable like any statute.
HB1121 0808H: Representative Burton Oppose00:57:43.357 - 12:57:49 PM; Clarifies nurses were in Judge Ruoff's list from lawsuit, so amendment contradicts court.
HB1121 0808H: Representative Rickey Oppose00:57:43.357 - 12:57:49 PM; Recalls online testimony (6 favor, 244 oppose); quotes witness on constituents at breaking point, says bill doesn't alleviate burden.
HB1121 0808H: Representative Ladd Information Only01:12:43.357 - 1:12:49 PM; Discusses ratios for teachers, principals, etc., per ED 306; questions districts' ratios if claiming underfunding, notes local decisions on staffing affect costs; highlights taxpayer efforts to support schools despite high taxes.
HB1121 0808H: Representative Lane Support01:12:43.357 - 1:12:49 PM; References RSA 193-E:2-C on varying resources for challenges; notes funding formula's right-hand side (extraordinary needs, fiscal disparity) supports needs, though courts focus on left-hand side.
HB1121 0808H: Representative Luna Oppose01:12:43.357 - 1:12:49 PM; Appreciates targeted aid but notes Manchester's is capped despite greatest needs.
HB1121 0808H: Representative Damon Oppose01:12:43.357 - 1:12:49 PM; Opposes removing reporting requirement every 10 years for lack of teeth; suggests adding teeth instead for transparency; concerned about removing Roman numeral II.
HB1121 0808H: Representative Luno Oppose01:27:43.357 - 1:27:49 PM; Amendment 09958H adds court-ordered elements from ConVal lawsuit, includes 'but not limited to', nurse and superintendent services; directs updates every 2 years; retains Roman II; addresses outdated costs.
HB1121 0808H: Representative Damon Support01:27:43.357 - 1:27:49 PM; Reinforces need to specify resources for 90% public K-12 students; updating costs every 2 years is basic as costs change.
HB1121 0808H: Representative Colcombe Oppose01:27:43.357 - 1:27:49 PM; Opposes 'but not limited to' as it leaves room for broad interpretations by courts, undermining clear legislative intent.
HB1121 0808H: Representative Luno Oppose01:27:43.357 - 1:27:49 PM; Amendment tries to control future legislatures ineffectively, like other failed attempts; future laws override.
HB1121 0808H: Representative Luno Support01:27:43.357 - 1:27:49 PM; Notes statutes have periodic reviews (e.g., every 10 years for standards); directs action unless legislature changes it.
HB1121 0808H: Representative Luno Oppose01:27:43.357 - 1:27:49 PM; Puts old study committee language into statute; not forward-thinking.
HB1288 0883H: Representative McGuire Support01:27:43.357 - 1:27:49 PM; Moves OTP; explains bill enables SAUs to adopt budget caps like districts, via 3/5 vote, with inflation escalators; proposes amendment 0883H as refined version of sponsor's amendment, dotting i's and crossing t's for corner cases.
HB1288 0883H: Representative Luno Information Only01:27:43.357 - 1:27:49 PM; Asks how it works in mixed SB2/non-SB2 SAUs; clarified as aggregate 3/5 vote of all voters in SAU.
HB1288 0883H: Representative Fellows Oppose01:42:43.357 - 1:42:49 PM; Concerns only 23 multi-district SAUs affected; single-district SAUs already control via warrants; questions awareness.
HB1288 0883H: Representative Popovich Support01:42:43.357 - 1:42:49 PM; In multi-district SAUs, budget is untouchable; bill gives control over increases, currently zero input.
HB1288 0883H: Representative Ames Information Only01:42:43.357 - 1:42:49 PM; Questions definition of 'current overhead cost per student' in amendment; notes missing RSA citation (194-C:9-4D doesn't exist).
HB1288 0883H: Representative Luno Information Only01:42:43.357 - 1:42:49 PM; Notes discrepancy: adoption is 3/5 of all voters in SAU, rescission is 3/5 in each school district.
HB1288 0883H: Representative Pillsbury Information Only01:42:43.357 - 1:42:49 PM; Agrees discrepancy suggests different intent; adoption aggregate, rescission per district.
HB1288 0883H: Representative Popovich Information Only01:42:43.357 - 1:42:49 PM; Presumes similar intent despite wording; suggests cleanup if needed.
HB1288 0883H: Representative McGuire Information Only01:42:43.357 - 1:42:49 PM; Acknowledges drafting error in citation; suggests approve and floor amend, or interim study.
HB1288 0883H: Representative Luno Information Only01:42:43.357 - 1:42:49 PM; Suggests ballot requirement for votes in multi-district SAUs for recounts.
HB1288 0883H: Representative McGuire Support01:42:43.357 - 1:42:49 PM; Pulls back motions for interim study due to deadline and clarity issues.
HB1807 1004H: Representative Colcombe Support02:07:23.055 - 2:07:29 PM; Introduces and explains amendment 1004H, which replaces the original bill by removing tax impact reporting and focusing on corrections to the students first act reporting. Key changes include consolidating three line graphs into one dual Y-axis graph, reducing paper size from 18x24 inches to 8.5x11 inches for cost savings, and requiring average cost per pupil and performance standards information on both warrant articles and ballots to ensure transparency at deliberative sessions and public hearings.
HB1807 1004H: Representative Brickie Information Only02:07:23.055 - 2:07:29 PM; References the original public hearing on February 13th and asks if the Department of Revenue Administration (DRA) and Secretary of State have been consulted regarding placement on warrant articles and ballots. Confirms that there are no issues with these placements based on school districts' prior actions.
HB1807 1004H: Representative Damon Information Only02:07:23.055 - 2:07:29 PM; References the original public hearing where Mark Meganello from the Department of Education raised concerns, notes the removal of the cost per pupil metric, and inquires if the Department of Education has reviewed the amendment. Learns that while the amendment addresses known concerns, no formal response has been received from DOE.
HB1807 1004H: Representative Fellows Information Only02:07:23.055 - 2:07:29 PM; Seeks clarification on whether the amendment addresses DOE concerns without formal review and requests explanation of what will appear on warrant articles. Receives details on including average cost per pupil and proficiency rates under the operating budget title on warrants, similar to ballots. Further questions the distinction between warrants and ballots in SB2 towns, noting some districts omitted information from warrants based on legal advice.
HB1816 0983H: Representative Ladd Support02:22:23.055 - 2:22:29 PM; Moves for Ought to Pass (OTP) and explains amendment 0983H, which clarifies the State Board's role in financial emergencies under RSA 186.5A. Emphasizes that DOE intervention is for oversight and facilitation, not takeover of daily operations, including up to one year of limited oversight to develop and oversee recovery plans. Highlights the need to define DOE's supportive role without ongoing control.
HB1816 0983H: Representative Damon Support02:22:23.055 - 2:22:29 PM; Moves for amendment 0983H and supports it, appreciating the limited one-year oversight to clarify DOE's facilitative role rather than takeover. Notes its complementarity to HB1824, which addresses financial distress differently, and hopes both bills are considered favorably.
HB1816 0983H: Representative Luna Support02:22:23.055 - 2:22:29 PM; Questions whether the bill permits DOE or State Board to take control of daily operations in a financial emergency, citing specific lines in the amendment. Receives clarification that intervention is limited to assisting with recovery plans and leveraging resources, without intent to override local control. Agrees to support with a note in the committee report to establish legislative history on this point.
HB1824: Representative Popovich Support02:36:16.728 - 2:36:22 PM; Makes a motion for interim study on HB 1824, explaining that it reserves the bill as a tool for future issues in districts like Claremont, allowing adjustments as needed.
HB1824: Representative Damon Oppose02:37:30.000 - 2:37:36 PM; Opposes the interim study motion and supports Ought to Pass (OTP). Highlights the urgency for helping districts with financial insolvency, noting the bill's creation of a revolving loan fund for state resources and statutory option for municipalities to loan money to school districts, which would have been valuable in Claremont.
HB1824: Committee Vote02:38:30.000 - 2:38:36 PM; Roll call vote on the motion for interim study: 10 yes (Vice Chairman Spillsbury, Rep. McGuire, Rep. Urf, Rep. Kulkam, Rep. Popovich, Rep. Brown, Rep. Mohegan, Rep. Peoples, Rep. DeSimone, Chairman Ladd), 8 no (Rep. Luno, Rep. Ames, Rep. Burton, Rep. Fellows, Rep. Damon, Rep. Brickey, Rep. Crecian, Rep. Weinstein). Motion passes 10-8. Majority report by Rep. Popovich for interim study; minority report by Rep. Damon for OTP.

Ladd, Rick(Chairman)(R)[B+]2025	Brown, Pam(Clerk)(R)[B+]2025	Spilsbury, Walter(V Chairman)(R)[A-]2025
McGuire, Dan(R)[A]2025	Ames, Dick(D)[CT]2025	Burton, Wayne(D)[F]2025
Luneau, David(D)[CT]2025	Colcombe, Riché(R)[B+]2025	Chretien, Suzanne(D)[F]2025
Popovici-Muller, Daniel(R)[A-]2025	Damon, Hope(D)[CT]2025	Fellows, Sallie(D)[CT]2025
Erf, Keith(R)[A]2025	Bricchi, Tracy(D)[D-]2025	Weinstein, Toni(D)[F]2025
Peeples, Raymond(R)[B+]2025	Mehegan, Peter(R)[B+]2025