Committee Summary for House Education Funding (03/31/2026)

Member	Member	Member
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

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
SB491	Public Hearing	enabling students to utilize education freedom account funds to pay for certain career and technical education funding.	Watters, David(D)[D-]2025
SB513	Public Hearing	requiring schools to engage an owner's project manager for construction of school building aid projects at the time of application.	Abbas, Daryl(R)[B-]2025
SB531	Public Hearing	establishing a task force to study the feasibility of the creation of cosmetology related programming in Coos County.	Watters, David(D)[D-]2025
SB580	Public Hearing	(New Title) relative to establishing a school cooperative purchasing program.	Sullivan, Victoria(R)[A-]2025
SB586	General Working Session	requiring school districts to publish a school administrative unit audit report after the end of the fiscal year.	Murphy, Keith(R)[A]2025

SB491: Support 00:13:58.987 - 10:13:24 AM; Senator Waters introduced SB 491, explaining its purpose to enhance access to Career and Technical Education (CTE) for all students, particularly those with Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs). He highlighted the bill's two main components: requiring the Department of Education to inform EFA students about CTE opportunities and separating state funding for CTE tuition and transportation into distinct funds to prevent cannibalization and ensure adequate reimbursement for districts. He noted collaboration with the Department of Education, State Board, and others, and addressed historical funding issues, emphasizing growing CTE enrollments and the need for sustainable funding. Waters also discussed pausing broader EFA-CTE integration due to open enrollment changes and expressed optimism for future federal funding support.
SB491: Information Only 00:18:53.827 - 10:18:19 AM; Representative Fleming thanked the Senator and raised concerns about surprise tuition invoices from CTE centers to school districts, questioning how the bill addresses inadequate state funding support for CTE students and unplanned budget impacts on districts.
SB491: Support 00:20:02.307 - 10:19:28 AM; Waters responded that he would follow up with the Commissioner and CTE directors, attributing surprise billings to inadequate combined funding for tuition and transportation. He praised Commissioner Davis's data-driven approach and believed separating funds and increasing budgets would resolve the issue.
SB491: Information Only 00:21:01.267 - 10:20:27 AM; Fleming followed up, noting state underfunding of transportation costs and seeking clarity on whether surprise invoices relate to tuition or unexpected student counts, requesting information before acting on the bill.
SB491: Support 00:22:18.047 - 10:21:44 AM; Waters agreed to investigate, mentioning potential fluctuations in student numbers and program costs, and the challenges for EFA students where grants may not cover full CTE expenses. He committed to determining per-program costs for rational billing.
SB491: Information Only 00:23:16.727 - 10:22:42 AM; Representative Pricky confirmed EFA students can already access CTE but questioned who would cover costs exceeding the $5,000 EFA grant, such as a $10,000 program.
SB491: Support 00:24:08.764 - 10:23:34 AM; Waters explained that currently, families pay the difference, and the bill does not change that. He noted the bill is informational for now, with full enrollment in CTE potentially making it the home school to cover costs. He advocated for future solutions for partial courses, especially sampler programs, but emphasized this bill focuses on awareness without burdening districts.
SB491: Information Only 00:26:25.479 - 10:25:51 AM; Representative Damon asked under current law who decides whether CTE centers charge EFA families, waive excess costs, or require district enrollment for services.
SB491: Support 00:27:11.899 - 10:26:37 AM; Waters stated decisions are made by local school boards or SAUs, with space availability required. He noted statutory silence on EFA-CTE funding, complicating matters, and suggested waiting for open enrollment to settle before addressing.
SB491: Information Only 00:28:19.899 - 10:27:45 AM; Representative Dawson pointed out discrepancies between the fiscal note and Waters' statements, noting options for CTE districts to charge, require enrollment, or provide free services, and highlighted inequities across districts.
SB491: Support 00:29:21.979 - 10:28:47 AM; Waters acknowledged the fiscal note reflected an earlier bill version that included funding directives, now removed. The current bill focuses on information for EFAs and funding separation. He stressed the need for future legislation to standardize approaches and avoid piecemeal district decisions.
SB491: Information Only 00:30:32.539 - 10:29:58 AM; Representative Ellis deferred a technical question about the bill to the Department of Education representative.
SB491: Support 00:30:32.539 - 10:29:58 AM; Waters apologized for delving into EFA complexities, reiterating the bill's simplicity: providing information to EFA students and preparing separate funds for tuition and transportation via legislative authority changes.
SB491: Information Only 00:31:36.219 - 10:31:02 AM; Representative McGuire sought clarification on separating the current combined budget (e.g., 10 million) into two funds and why this would be advantageous.
SB491: Support 00:31:36.219 - 10:31:02 AM; Waters explained it allows the Department to make data-based apportionments, accounting for inflation in transportation costs, and enables realistic budget requests (e.g., 15-16 million total) to fully support the system.
SB491: Support 00:32:31.699 - 10:31:57 AM; Representative Patrificio-Miller summarized the bill as informational awareness for EFA eligibility and a minor accounting change for separate funds, confirming no hidden complexities and noting removed elements from the Senate version.
SB491: Support 00:32:31.699 - 10:31:57 AM; Waters agreed with the summary, adding that it shifts budget-setting authority from the State Board to the Department.
SB491: Information Only 00:33:26.619 - 10:32:52 AM; Representative Burton asked why a student wanting CTE would choose an EFA over attending their regular school.
SB491: Support 00:34:32.659 - 10:33:58 AM; Waters emphasized EFAs allow individualized choices for families and students, such as attending non-public schools or specific CTE programs. He stressed ensuring awareness for EFA students exploring options in middle or high school, and noted potential federal funding increases for trades.
SB491: Information Only 00:36:40.179 - 10:36:06 AM; Representative Ames questioned why legislation is needed to separate costs into two funds and provide information links, suggesting it could be done administratively.
SB491: Support 00:36:40.179 - 10:36:06 AM; Waters clarified that statutory amendments are required to change authority from the State Board to the Department, establish separate funds, and direct the scholarship organization on information provision.
SB491: Information Only 00:00:00.000 - 9:59:26 AM; The Department representative began to address the bill but the transcript cuts off after greeting.
SB491: Information Only 00:38:15.863 - 10:37:41 AM; Chrissy Vanderhoek explains the financial aspects of CTE programs, including how sending districts pay 25% of tuition costs based on a percentage of the receiving district's prior year cost per pupil, which varies by district and sometimes by program. She details that tuition rates are set between 20-40% of the cost per pupil, with some centers aggregating rates and others setting program-specific rates like higher for welding. She clarifies federal Perkins funds are allocated based on population (30%) and poverty (70%) in sending areas, used to supplement not supplant local/state funds. State aid includes a $9 million fund for tuition and transportation, with transportation prioritized first per rules, then remaining funds distributed per eligible student. She notes EFA students do not receive additional state funding beyond their EFA, and billing for them is handled directly with the CTE center via scholarship organizations.
SB491: Information Only 00:46:52.161 - 10:46:18 AM; Melissa White clarifies billing for EFA students in CTE programs: EFA students enroll directly with the CTE center, costs are covered by scholarship organizations up to limits, with parents paying any remainder; sending districts are not involved. She confirms CTE centers set tuition rates locally for EFA students, independent of the 25% local share formula, and the department does not oversee these arrangements.
SB513: Oppose 00:59:13.430 - 10:58:39 AM; Representative McGuire introduces SB 513 but opposes it, noting it is identical to last year's SB 209, which the committee amended to raise the threshold from $1 million to $1.25 million and require owner's project managers only to ensure best interests, passing 18-0. The Senate altered it, but a committee of conference on HB 506 incorporated the committee's amendment into law. He argues no change is needed as the current law reflects the committee's preferred version.
SB531: Support 01:02:55.800 - 11:02:21 AM; Senator Waters introduces SB 531, which establishes a task force with cosmetology experts, Department of Education representatives, and Northern Essex Community College members to study feasible cosmetology-related programming in Coos County. The bill also addresses the Commissioner of Education's authority to designate CTE program sites, linking both parts to enable such programming.
SB531: Support 01:04:17.231 - 11:03:43 AM; Senator Waters discusses the timeliness of SB 531 following last year's reduction in cosmetology hours from 1500 to 1200, enabling completion within a two-year CTE program. He highlights the lack of cosmetology programs north of Laconia and the economic development benefits, especially for young women in the North Country. He emphasizes creative aspects of programs like those in Dover, including wig restyling for cancer patients, and broader skills in makeup and aesthetics. Waters advocates for using Perkins funding more nimbly for specific program needs and joint facilities with community colleges to share resources and instructors. He proposes Berlin as a model due to its proximity to White Mountain Community College and existing one-year program, potentially expandable for full certification. He envisions this as a new model for CTE on community college campuses, enhancing access and career pathways.
SB531: Support 01:18:02.756 - 11:17:28 AM; Reed provides background on CCSNH's workforce development programs, focusing on short-term training aligned with labor market demands, particularly in the North Country where economic disparities are high. She supports the cosmetology task force to address access barriers in Coos County, citing demand for cosmetology occupations and pathways to business management, massage therapy, hospitality, and barbering. She notes challenges like staffing, funding, facilities, and housing, suggesting a collaborative model with CTE centers for day use by students and evenings/weekends for adults to ensure sustainability and economic mobility.
SB531: Information Only 01:29:05.354 - 11:28:31 AM; Vanderhoek affirms the existing relationship between CCSNH and CTE via Perkins funding, noting CCSNH already offers CTE programs. She sees no unintended consequences from the bill and clarifies that current law allows designating locations outside traditional CTE centers, making Section 2 potentially redundant but supportive of joint programming.
SB580: Support 01:34:15.834 - 11:33:41 AM; Senator Sullivan introduces SB 580, which enables cooperative purchasing for small towns and standalone school districts to gain bargaining power like larger cities, saving taxpayer money on supplies. It establishes rules for local school boards in collaboration with the Department of Education. Additionally, it creates a receivership process allowing the State Board of Education to intervene in struggling districts, such as Claremont, to develop turnaround plans, implement improvements, and ensure stability for students, drawing from existing charter school oversight models.
SB580: Oppose 01:55:39.644 - 11:55:05 AM; Linda Tanner strongly objects to the receivership provision in the bill, calling it a 'poison pill' that undermines local control of public schools. She notes that while collaborative purchasing might be beneficial, the state takeover removes taxpayer-funded local authority. She contrasts this with charter schools, which are nonprofits with different regulations. Tanner highlights financial struggles in nearby districts like Claremont and Newport due to low tax bases and inadequate state funding. She questions why the state wouldn't offer voluntary consulting help instead of mandatory receivership and expresses concern that this could be used politically to target certain districts, cooperatives, or impose budget caps, eroding community institutions like public schools.
SB580: Oppose 02:01:44.715 - 12:01:10 PM; Brian Hawkins expresses concern with Section 5 of the bill, which grants broad authority to the State Board of Education to place school districts into receivership for vague reasons. He notes the lack of clarity on the receiver's role, qualifications, and process beyond avoiding financial conflicts. Hawkins warns against replacing one poor administration with another unqualified one, emphasizing the need for qualified professionals to address financial issues effectively for students' benefit. He agrees with prior testimony on the undefined responsibilities and potential resource issues.
SB586: Information Only 02:05:31.715 - 12:04:57 PM; The Chair closes the morning public hearing on SB 580 and initiates discussion on the committee's calendar. They note the full roster of five bills, including four non-early bills due May 7th and the new early bill SB 586 due April 16th. The Chair plans to coordinate scheduling, avoiding conflicts with Senate Education Committee meetings, and considers combining a hearing on SB 586 with a work session on the other bills next Tuesday.
SB586: Information Only 02:06:43.616 - 12:06:09 PM; The Vice Chair confirms that the four bills heard are not early bills, providing time until May 7th, and notes the committee's full workload with 181 Senate bills assigned.
SB586: Information Only 02:06:43.616 - 12:06:09 PM; Representative Damon requests avoiding meetings at the same time as Senate Education to facilitate attendance, noting conflicts with other bills.
SB586: Information Only 02:08:58.760 - 12:08:24 PM; Jen informs the committee that SB 586 is an early bill due April 16th and provides its title regarding publishing school administrative unit audit reports.
SB586: Information Only 02:11:35.446 - 12:11:01 PM; The member discusses planning a hearing on SB 586 next Tuesday and a work session on the four bills from the morning, suggesting combining them to progress efficiently without skipping the later bills.