Committee Summary for Senate Education (03/10/2026)

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
HB1467 00:01:33.580 - 8:15:15 AM	Public Hearing	(New Title) relative to the New Hampshire seal of civic excellence and engagement program.	Paige, David(D)[F]2025
HB1467 00:05:00.000 - 8:18:42 AM	Executive Session	(New Title) relative to the New Hampshire seal of civic excellence and engagement program.	Paige, David(D)[F]2025
HB1574 00:16:32.013 - 8:30:14 AM	Public Hearing	(New Title) relative to the extension of free and reduced price breakfast and lunch for students under the age of 22 and making an appropriation therefor.	Weinstein, Toni(D)[F]2025
HB1574 00:23:00.000 - 8:36:42 AM	Executive Session	(New Title) relative to the extension of free and reduced price breakfast and lunch for students under the age of 22 and making an appropriation therefor.	Weinstein, Toni(D)[F]2025
HB1503 00:31:14.394 - 8:44:56 AM	Public Hearing	allowing the department of education to allocate funds to create a database of maps of public schools for emergency use cases.	Ladd, Rick(R)[B+]2025
HB1202 00:46:43.919 - 9:00:25 AM	Public Hearing	relative to dual and concurrent enrollment requirements for courses at institutions within the community college system of New Hampshire.	Ladd, Rick(R)[B+]2025
HB1202 00:58:22.749 - 9:12:04 AM	Executive Session	relative to dual and concurrent enrollment requirements for courses at institutions within the community college system of New Hampshire.	Ladd, Rick(R)[B+]2025
HB1270 01:01:16.845 - 9:14:58 AM	Public Hearing	clarifying the definition of part-time teacher.	Drye, Margaret(R)[B+]2025
HB1270 01:14:33.471 - 9:28:15 AM	Executive Session	clarifying the definition of part-time teacher.	Drye, Margaret(R)[B+]2025
HB1792 01:14:33.471 - 9:28:15 AM	Public Hearing	prohibiting school districts and personnel from the instruction of critical race theory and LGBTQ+ ideologies in schools as well as establishing a private right of action for violations.	Belcher, Mike(R)[B+]2025

HB1467: Representative Nick Germana (for Representative David Page, Conway) Support00:01:33.580 - 8:15:15 AM; Introduced HB 1467 on behalf of Rep. David Page, who was absent due to childcare. The bill creates a voluntary opt-in program for school districts to award a Seal of Civic Excellence and Engagement on diplomas and transcripts for students demonstrating achievement in civics. It promotes excellence in civics without new mandates, using statewide standards with local flexibility. Students must complete extra civics education, pass assessments, and engage in civic activities. Similar programs exist in nearly a dozen states and are endorsed by organizations like iCivics. No fiscal impact, builds on prior civic learning laws.
HB1467: Committee Chair and Members Vote00:05:00.000 - 8:18:42 AM; Motion to go into executive session approved. Motion to pass HB 1467 (FN) with amendment seconded and approved 4-1. Motion to place on consent calendar approved 3-4. Senator Francis to take it out. Motion to come out of executive session approved.
HB1574: Representative Tony Weinstein (Rockingham District 10, Newmarket and Newfields) Support00:16:32.013 - 8:30:14 AM; Testified in support of HB 1574, which extends free and reduced-price meals to students with IEPs aged 21-22 in transitional programs. Noted federal funding stops at 21 despite state allowing enrollment until 22. Highlighted importance for learning and dignity, no student should go hungry. Bill refined bipartisansly with Department of Education for USDA compliance. Passionate about hunger and equal access.
HB1574: Representative Daniel Popovich Support00:18:00.000 - 8:31:42 AM; Supported HB 1574 as good policy addressing gap for 21+ students in high school losing federal meal funds. House Finance Committee cleaned up language. Low fiscal impact of $60,000, waived in House. Encouraged passage.
HB1574: Representative Timothy Horgan (Strafford County District 10, Durham) Support00:19:30.000 - 8:33:12 AM; Supported HB 1574, referencing past 'feed the kids' advocacy. Argued 21+ students in programs deserve free/reduced breakfast/lunch. Low cost, big impact for affected youth, regardless of family income. Urged passage to feed young adults.
HB1574: Riona Corp (Deputy Director, New Hampshire Hunger Solutions) Support00:21:00.000 - 8:34:42 AM; Urged ought to pass with amendment. Noted bipartisan House work. Eligibility for state-funded meals if qualified for federal at age 20, not all 20-22 in program. Offered for questions.
HB1574: Committee Chair and Members Vote00:23:00.000 - 8:36:42 AM; Motion to executive session approved. Motion for ought to pass HB 1574 FN seconded. Discussion on no appropriation needed per Dept of Ed, low $60,000 impact addressable in budget. Approved 5-0. Placed on consent 5-0. Sponsor to take it out. Motion to come out approved.
HB1503: Representative Daniel Popovich Support00:31:14.394 - 8:44:56 AM; Introduced HB 1503, passed House on consent. Requires Dept of Education to create and share standardized school maps with agencies for emergencies, ensuring coordination. No known incident, proactive based on experience. Broad support, 16-0 committee vote.
HB1503: Senator Altschiller Information Only00:33:00.000 - 8:46:42 AM; Questioned origin, no precipitating event, local handling exists. Rep. Popovich: Proactive, state support for standards across districts.
HB1503: Senator Prentice Information Only00:34:00.000 - 8:47:42 AM; Asked about coordination with Dept of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Rep. Popovich: Involved, based on Chairman Ladd's discussions.
HB1503: Senator Altschiller (follow-up) Information Only00:35:00.000 - 8:48:42 AM; Noted non-FN but requires technology; funding? Rep. Popovich: No new funds needed, use existing or budget process. Effective upon passage, but dept can manage.
HB1503: Senator Altschiller (further follow-up) Information Only00:36:00.000 - 8:49:42 AM; Did DOE request bill? Rep. Popovich: Discussions with DOE, they support and vetted language.
HB1503: Senator Sullivan Information Only00:37:00.000 - 8:50:42 AM; Clarified bill authorizes work without allocating funds yet. Rep. Popovich: Yes, provides legal authority lacking previously.
HB1503: Tim Carney (Department of Education, Bureau of School Facilities) Support00:38:00.000 - 8:51:42 AM; Clarified RFP for mapping in works with HSEM Director Buxton. PSIC allocated $2.8M from existing $10M for this. Bill clarifies authority under current law, housekeeping. Work advancing without impediment.
HB1503: Senator Altschiller (question to Carney) Information Only00:39:30.000 - 8:53:12 AM; Confirmed RFP and funding exist, work proceeding, no legal barrier. Carney: Yes, PSIC vote enables it.
HB1202: Representative Daniel Popovich-Miller Support00:46:43.919 - 9:00:25 AM; Introduced HB 1202, which removes the four-credit restriction on courses offered through the CCSNH early college program for high school students. Highlighted the program's success and benefits, noting CCSNH's request for flexibility to offer larger courses without reason to maintain the limit. Expressed desire to expand the program and remove financial barriers for students from less economically privileged families.
HB1202: Chuck Lloyd, Vice Chancellor, Community College System; Shawna Young, Director of Secondary Education Partnerships Support00:46:43.919 - 9:00:25 AM; Explained that last year they requested the four-credit cap, but now seek its removal due to curriculum evolution including five- and six-credit LNA and welding programs for quicker workforce entry. Noted administrative burden and financial barriers of billing extra credits. Emphasized serving over 11,000 students statewide, with only a small number affected, allowing flexibility for certifications and credentials without limiting motivated students.
HB1202: Committee Members (Senator Abbas, others) Support00:58:22.749 - 9:12:04 AM; Discussed previous year's reluctance to remove credit cap, now supportive as CCSNH is ready. Praised the program for enabling high school graduates with associate degrees, saving money, helping motivated and overachieving students stay engaged. Voted to pass 5-0 on consent.
HB1270: Representative Mike Belcher, on behalf of Representative Dry Support01:01:16.845 - 9:14:58 AM; Introduced HB 1270 as a housekeeping bill to loosen qualifications for part-time teachers, allowing districts to bring in qualified experts. Passed House on voice vote bipartisanship. Deferred technical questions to Department of Education.
HB1270: Steve Appleby, Department of Education Information Only01:01:16.845 - 9:14:58 AM; Requested the bill to clarify determination of qualifications by local districts and application of code of conduct/ethics to part-time teachers, allowing rescission of criminal history clearance for violations. Aimed to legalize use of community college/university faculty for early college classes without full licensing. Clarified rewording for direct applicability of codes, statewide clearance, and distinction between aspirational ethics and actionable conduct.
HB1270: Committee Members (Senator Warren, Senator Altschiller, others) Support01:14:33.471 - 9:28:15 AM; Senator Warren supported for providing actionable measures via code of conduct. Senator Altschiller noted remote testimony (93 oppose, 2 support) and past opposition, viewing as harm reduction but preferring repeal; ultimately did not oppose consent. Voted to pass 4-1, then consent 5-0.
HB1792: Representative Mike Belcher Support01:14:33.471 - 9:28:15 AM; Introduced HB 1792, the Charlie Act, named after Charlie Kirk, to prohibit politicization and indoctrination in classrooms by narrowly defining and banning compelling affirmation of controversial ideologies like critical consciousness, oppressor-oppressed lenses, critical race theory as praxis, and Marxist frameworks. Aimed to restore neutrality or pro-American approach, avoid vagueness by identifying lineages and effects, enable parental lawsuits and departmental enforcement via code of conduct. Emphasized careful crafting for court viability, grassroots support, and House passage.
HB1792: Representative Mike Belcher, Sponsor Support01:29:33.471 - 9:43:15 AM; Representative Belcher continues his testimony responding to committee questions. He argues that the bill protects parental rights and avoids compelling speech from students, emphasizing that it targets state-mandated affirmation of certain ideologies rather than ignoring reality. He addresses concerns from the Department of Justice about legal costs, vagueness, and free speech, asserting the bill is crafted to survive court challenges and aligns with existing budgeted enforcement mechanisms. Belcher clarifies that teachers, as government employees, do not have unrestricted free speech in classrooms with captive audiences and must uphold policy decisions. He defends student free speech protections in the bill and provides historical context on critical theories originating from figures like Paulo Freire and institutions like UNH, citing examples such as privilege walks and student walkouts as evidence of indoctrination. He responds to questions on compliance with prior court rulings, differences from previous bills, fiscal notes, and the selection of named theorists, explaining the bill's focus on ideological roots rather than specific practices. Belcher defines 'productive citizenship' as preparing students for societal participation without divisive ideologies and reiterates that local schools are extensions of state government.
HB1792: Representative Nick Germana, Cheshire District 15 Oppose01:59:33.471 - 10:13:15 AM; Representative Germana, a history professor and Hegel scholar, opposes the bill, arguing that listing the Hegelian dialectic is absurd as it is not taught in public schools and traces back through philosophical history to figures like Kant and Aristotle, potentially banning foundational Western thought. He criticizes the bill's focus on 'left-wing ideologies' while ignoring right-wing ones like fascism or Nazism associated with Heidegger, questioning neutrality and the distinction between teaching and inculcating ideas. Germana warns of vagueness leading to legal challenges similar to prior bills and suggests it could require legislative oversight to define boundaries, stifling neutral education on topics like LGBTQ issues or human rights grounded in dialectical theory.
HB1792: Representative Horgan Oppose02:14:33.471 - 10:28:15 AM; Representative Horgan, a former high school teacher and UNH supervisor, opposes the bill based on discussions with veteran social studies teachers who confirm that prohibited concepts like LGBTQ ideology are not taught in schools. He emphasizes teaching diverse ideologies like Marxism and capitalism neutrally to foster critical thinking and civic engagement, viewing the bill as an attack on local control that reduces student electives and mandates curriculum, contrary to New Hampshire values.
HB1792: Ken Hartzoldin, Londonderry Support02:18:05.387 - 10:31:47 AM; Ken Hartzoldin, a naturalized citizen and retiree with children in NH schools, supports the bill by sharing his background from challenging urban environments and global career experiences. He advocates for teaching truth and a broad worldview in schools to prepare students for global interactions, implying the bill counters biased indoctrination by promoting objective education on cultural backgrounds without divisive influences.
HB1792: Deborah Nelson, Hanover, Retired Teacher and School Board Member Oppose02:18:05.387 - 10:31:47 AM; Deborah Nelson, a retired high school teacher and school board member from Hanover and Dresden districts, opposes HB 1792, comparing it to the failed HB 544 that led to costly litigation. She argues it undermines local control, limits equal education access, and threatens teachers with vague language enabling lawsuits. Drawing from 30 years of teaching American studies, she assures no subversive ideologies were taught, emphasizing critical thinking over indoctrination. Nelson highlights student resilience and the importance of questioning history, including constitutional exclusions of races and women, and warns the bill silences educators, impacts recruitment, and burdens districts, urging partnership with schools instead.
HB1792: Attorney Long, NH Department of Justice Oppose02:33:05.387 - 10:46:47 AM; Attorney Long expresses concerns about the bill creating a conflict with existing state laws prohibiting discrimination in K-12 education based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity, placing teachers in a catch-22 when addressing bullying of LGBTQ+ students. She clarifies that the issue extends beyond names and pronouns to include slurs and derogatory comments, supported by data showing severe negative outcomes for affected students. She highlights the lack of a scienter requirement, potential additional budgeting needs not accounted for in prior bills, and low incidence of actual complaints under previous similar laws. The department condemns violence and discrimination and is willing to collaborate on protective legislation but opposes the bill due to litigation risks and recommends ITL or interim study.
HB1792: Emily Hunt, student at UNH Oppose02:38:00.000 - 10:51:42 AM; Emily Hunt shares her personal experience as a queer student, crediting supportive teachers for helping her feel accepted and excel in school without being 'made gay.' She argues that the bill would prevent educators from supporting queer students, fearing job loss, and leave them vulnerable to bullying without tools to enforce respect for identities, as that would affirm LGBTQ+ norms. She urges legislators to oppose the bill to ensure all students, including queer ones, feel safe and free in schools.
HB1792: Bob Moore, East Kingston, retired public school science teacher Oppose02:48:05.387 - 11:01:47 AM; Bob Moore, a retired teacher from Pelham and Litchfield, emphasizes the importance of academic freedom in his career. He opposes HB 1792, the Charlie Act, for prohibiting instruction on LGBTQ+ and CRT, explaining CRT as a framework examining systemic racism like historical redlining outlawed by the Fair Housing Act. He argues that discussing sexual orientation or gender in historical contexts is factual information, not indoctrination, essential for students to understand complex realities, debate ideas safely, and develop critical thinking.
HB1792: James McKim, Goffstown resident, parent, past president of Manchester NAACP Oppose02:53:00.000 - 11:06:42 AM; James McKim, a plaintiff in the federal lawsuit against a similar prior act, opposes HB 1792 for its vague language that chills speech, harms educators, and exposes the state to litigation risks. He contends that teaching about race, identity, and inequality using pedagogies encouraging discussion and empathy is education, not indoctrination, vital for understanding marginalized experiences. The bill silences teachers, limits student learning, and contradicts democratic principles, as warned by Eisenhower; he urges rejection to trust educators and students with facts and diverse viewpoints.
HB1792: Brian Hawkins, representing NEA New Hampshire Oppose02:58:00.000 - 11:11:42 AM; Brian Hawkins opposes HB 1792 due to its vagueness leading to subjective interpretation and arbitrary enforcement, impeding competency-based teaching by discouraging student-led discussions that might touch on banned concepts. He rejects the narrative of widespread indoctrination as fictitious and dangerous, potentially worsening teacher attrition as noted in the 2021 Teacher Shortage Committee report. He calls for finding the bill inexpedient to legislate to avoid adding to the fear already affecting education.

Ward, Ruth(Chairman)(R)[B-]2025	Sullivan, Victoria(V Chairman)(R)[A-]2025	Prentiss, Suzanne(D)[F]2025
Altschiller, Debra(D)[CT]2025	Abbas, Daryl(R)[B-]2025