Committee Summary for Senate Education Finance (01/28/2026)

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
SB491 0250 00:04:50.639 - 10:32:51 AM	Executive Session	enabling students to utilize education freedom account funds to pay for certain career and technical education funding.	Watters, David(D)[D-]2025
SB507 0334s 00:08:22.720 - 10:36:23 AM	Executive Session	relative to the financial obligation of a school district concerning students expelled for committing assault against a school staff member.	Murphy, Keith(R)[A]2025
SB582 00:14:17.920 - 10:42:18 AM	Executive Session	modifying the base cost of an adequate education.	Altschiller, Debra(D)[CT]2025
SB583 00:21:01.760 - 10:49:02 AM	Executive Session	directing the department of education to create an education funding transparency data and reporting system.	Lang, Timothy(R)[B-]2025
SB584 00:22:10.880 - 10:50:11 AM	Executive Session	increasing the amount of funding provided for students receiving special education services.	Prentiss, Suzanne(D)[F]2025
Unclear 00:32:27.039 - 11:00:28 AM	Executive Session	Unclear

SB491 0250: Chair (unnamed) Information Only00:04:50.639 - 10:32:51 AM; Calls the executive session to order and moves to consider SB 491. Notes the bill's purpose and calls for motions.
SB491 0250: Senator Aler Oppose00:05:42.880 - 10:33:43 AM; Moves for ITL (Inexpedient to Legislate). Expresses concern about double dipping allowing use of education freedom accounts for career and technical education, which burdens school budgets, based on feedback from a joint school board covering four towns.
SB491 0250: Senator (unnamed) Support00:05:42.880 - 10:33:43 AM; Supported the original bill and notes Senator Waters' amendment was circulated to address issues.
SB491 0250: Senator Rosenwald Oppose00:05:42.880 - 10:33:43 AM; Notes Department of Education indicated conflict with current statute, believing the bill isn't ready even with the amendment.
SB491 0250: Senator (unnamed) Support00:07:02.960 - 10:35:03 AM; Believes the amendment handles the issues by pulling out section three of the bill.
SB491 0250: Senator Carson Support00:07:02.960 - 10:35:03 AM; Moves Ought to Pass as amended with Waters amendment 0250.
SB507 0334s: Senator Carson Support00:08:22.720 - 10:36:23 AM; As prime sponsor, moves Ought to Pass and amendment 0334s, which converts the bill to a study committee to address issues raised in the hearing while supporting the concept of protecting educators from assault. Explains high costs of expulsion (upwards of six figures for alternative education placements) and the state's obligation to provide 180 days of education.
SB507 0334s: Senator (unnamed) Information Only00:09:10.320 - 10:37:11 AM; Questions the cost of expulsion and receives explanation on alternative placement costs.
SB507 0334s: Senator Rosen Information Only00:10:10.959 - 10:38:11 AM; Clarifies the state's obligation to provide education even after expulsion, requiring alternative placements.
SB507 0334s: Senator (unnamed) Information Only00:11:31.360 - 10:39:32 AM; Raises concern about study committees given rules committee's stance, but accepts clarification that study committees can attach to existing bills.
SB507 0334s: Madame President Information Only00:11:31.360 - 10:39:32 AM; Clarifies rules committee allowed study committees on existing bills rather than new ones, and three were accommodated.
SB507 0334s: Senator (unnamed) Support00:12:39.600 - 10:40:40 AM; Supports the amendment for a study committee, noting the original bill had issues but studying the issue is valuable.
SB582: Senator Alchiller Support00:14:17.920 - 10:42:18 AM; Supports Ought to Pass, emphasizing the importance of following court orders for adequate education funding at $7,356 per pupil as mandated by the court to meet base adequacy.
SB582: Senator Ro Support00:16:01.040 - 10:44:02 AM; Senator Ro notes the long history of litigation on education funding adequacy, expresses confidence that the bill can be financed through the finance committee, and emphasizes that it addresses a constitutional decision without immediate budget impact this biennium.
SB582: Unnamed Senator Oppose00:17:18.640 - 10:45:19 AM; The senator states that constituents did not send them to increase spending by $500 million a year and cannot support the motion, appreciating the bill's importance but opposing due to cost.
SB582: Senator Gray Oppose00:17:18.640 - 10:45:19 AM; Senator Gray clarifies there is no mandate in the court decision for the legislature to act or pay, explains this to constituents, and amid controversy, will not support the motion.
SB582: Senator Alchiller Support00:18:33.440 - 10:46:34 AM; Senator Alchiller argues the court order clearly places responsibility on the legislature, which has abdicated it leading to litigation; stresses the need to follow court orders on the set adequacy number, as budgeting is not the court's role.
SB582: Senator Gray Oppose00:18:33.440 - 10:46:34 AM; Senator Gray disputes the interpretation of the court order, preferring to discuss offline, and ends participation.
SB582: Senator Carson Information Only00:19:52.960 - 10:47:53 AM; Senator Carson agrees on repeated litigation but believes it will continue indefinitely; notes escalating costs despite declining enrollment and anticipates floor discussions on education funding.
SB582: Committee Chair Vote00:21:01.760 - 10:49:02 AM; The committee votes on the motion to pass SB 582, with 4 in favor and 2 opposed; the motion fails.
SB582: Senator Carson Oppose00:21:01.760 - 10:49:02 AM; Senator Carson moves for Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL) on SB 582, seconded by Senator Ward; the motion passes 4 to 2.
SB583: Senator Carson Support00:21:01.760 - 10:49:02 AM; Senator Carson moves to pass SB 583, seconded by Senator Ward; with no discussion, it passes on consent.
SB583: Committee Chair Vote00:21:01.760 - 10:49:02 AM; The committee approves SB 583 on consent and assigns Senator Rosenwald to take it out.
SB584: Senator (unnamed) Support00:22:10.880 - 10:50:11 AM; The senator recommends changing the effective date to 2027 to avoid budget impact, notes dramatic growth in special education costs, and highlights burdens on local taxpayers from districts like Warner, Cobb Hill School, and Hillsboro due to transportation and other expenses.
SB584: Unnamed speaker Support00:24:31.360 - 10:52:32 AM; The speaker emphasizes that local taxpayers are responsible but strained, with examples of high daily transportation costs for special education students ($350-$450 per day), and advocates raising state responsibility to $16,000 per student to address deficiencies.
SB584: Senator Carson Oppose00:25:22.880 - 10:53:23 AM; Senator Carson highlights record education spending ($2 billion biennially) despite declining enrollment, notes increased special ed funding in the budget, and argues the bill is unnecessary as the state already funds it adequately, leading to high property taxes.
SB584: Senator Rosenwald Support00:26:32.159 - 10:54:33 AM; Senator Rosenwald notes the bill addresses a constitutional violation affecting 20% of students (30,000 kids) with non-optional services; criticizes the downshift of costs to property taxpayers and will vote against ITL.
SB584: Unnamed Senator Oppose00:28:29.600 - 10:56:30 AM; The senator shares personal experience with IEPs, questions variances in special ed labeling across districts (up to one-third in some), suggests administrators incentivized by funding bonuses to over-label students, and supports ITL to avoid increasing to $16,000 per student.
SB584: Senator Rosenwald Information Only00:29:44.000 - 10:57:45 AM; Senator Rosenwald explains variances in special ed numbers due to larger districts like Nashua offering more services, attracting families or out-of-district placements; references personal history in Bedford since 1988.
SB584: Senator Rosenwald Information Only00:29:44.000 - 10:57:45 AM; The speaker shared an anecdote about a cardiologist interested in opening a practice in Nashua and Hollis, but deterred by the community attitude towards families with special needs children, as town meetings publicly identify them as causing property tax increases. He emphasized that defying court opinions on education finance continues to raise property taxes.
SB584: Unidentified Speaker Vote00:31:13.600 - 10:59:14 AM; The committee voted on Senate Bill 584, with the motion passing 4-2 in favor.
Unclear: Chair Information Only00:32:27.039 - 11:00:28 AM; The committee adjourned the executive session, noting they are in good shape with one bill from the House and potentially a late bill in two weeks. Mentioned bills 581 and 513.