Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
← All bills

HB 329 · 2025 · House · Education Policy and Administration Committee

School air quality and heat policies

AI-generated

relative to school district policies governing air quality and temperature issues in schools.

Requires school boards to adopt policies addressing air quality and temperature conditions and to develop a heat illness prevention and emergency response plan, and requires annual air quality investigations and use of an EPA indoor air quality program.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 20, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill requires school boards to develop a policy governing air quality and temperature issues in schools, as well as a heat illness prevention and emergency response plan.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as introduced. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“The school board of each school district shall develop and implement a policy governing air quality and temperature issues in schools.”
RSA 200:48
“The school board of each school district shall develop and implement a heat illness prevention and emergency response plan and provide training to school employees on how to carry out the plan.”
RSA 200:48-a
“The school principal, or designee shall annually investigate the air quality of any schoolhouse or building used for school purposes and report the findings by completing a survey provided by the department of education.”
RSA 200:11-a
“The policy shall address methods of minimizing or eliminating emissions from buses, cars, delivery vehicles, maintenance vehicles, and other motorized vehicles used for transportation on school property taking into account the state anti-idling and clean air zone policies established by the department of environmental services.”
RSA 200:48

Official record

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Brian SullivanDPrimeSenior Democratic Advisor
  • Rep. Patricia CornellDRanking Member· Education Policy
  • Rep. Hope DamonDDeputy Ranking Member· Education Funding
  • Rep. Muriel HallDDeputy Ranking Member· Education Policy
  • Sen. Suzanne PrentissDAssistant Democratic Leader

Also: Rep. Donald BouchardD, Rep. Tracy BricchiD, Sen. David WattersD

Public testimony

209 signed in online · 53 wrote testimony

97% support3% oppose0% neutral

ForExtreme heat impairs learning and endangers health

AgainstNot a worthwhile legislative priority

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I see first hand how poor air quality and temperature control effect health and learning of students and staff. Students constantly sniffling, going to the nurse, or absent from school.…”
— Janine Anctil, Litchfieldsupports
“Wouldn't you want the good air quality and temperature control where you work? Of course you would. So why wouldn't you want it for our most vulnerable population. Your children. Grandchildren, etc. The same standards should apply to the school districts and the House.”
— Darlene Gymziak, Litchfieldsupports
“Temperatures are extremely variable in schools based on what room you are teaching in. As a teacher, I have NO air conditioning and it is extremely hot when the weather is hot outside. The students and I are often so uncomfortable.…”
— Christine Hodsdon, Exetersupports
“I have attended and worked in public schools with messed up temperature controls for 32 years, and can recognize that this is not an issue to waste law-makers' time on.…”
— Emily Sanborn, Bethlehemopposes

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Feb 3, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate10–8
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Mar 20, 2025HouseDivisionInexpedient to LegislateAdopted210–162
    Overall
    56% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 29, 2025Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration5:21:24–5:35:4414m 20slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 3, 2025Public hearingHouse Education Policy and AdministrationWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 20, 2025Floor debateHouse floor2:16:35–2:20:414m 6slocated in the stream transcriptInexpedient to Legislate — adopted, division 210-162

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 8, 2025HouseIntroduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Education Policy and Administration HJ 2 P. 15
  2. Jan 29, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/29/2025 03:00 pm LOB 205-207
  3. Feb 3, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 02/03/2025 01:00 pm LOB 205-207
  4. Feb 3, 2025HouseMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/03/2025 (Vote 10-8; RC)
  5. Feb 6, 2025HouseMinority Committee Report: Ought to Pass
  6. Mar 20, 2025HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA DV 210-162 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 40

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.