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HB 549 · 2025 · House · Education Funding Committee

Education freedom funds at religious schools

AI-generated

relative to the use of education freedom account funds in religious schools and institutions of higher education.

Prohibits the use of education freedom account funds at religious schools or for religious education and repeals provisions on the independence and legal proceedings of education freedom account providers.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — indefinitely postponed · March 26, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill prohibits the use of education freedom account funds at religious schools or for religious education or training, and repeals provisions relating to independence of and legal proceedings concerning education freedom account providers.

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 funds in an EFA may only be used for educational purposes in accordance with paragraph II, and shall not be used at a religious school or for a religious education or training.”
Section 2

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Timothy HorriganDPrime

Rep. Suzanne VailD, Rep. Allan HowlandD

Public testimony

129 signed in online · 41 wrote testimony

85% support15% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I oppose HB 415. Providing menstrual products in schools is a basic healthcare requirement and should be considered the same as providing bandaids.”
— Sara West, Durhamsupports
“Fund PUBLIC EDUCATION first. The funds for EFA take money that is needed in the public schools which are under funded by the state. Local property taxes are getting out of control for education. Tax dollars going to religious schools has to be made up by local property taxes”
— William Farnum, Tamworthsupports
“This bill reflects the clearly-stated constitutional prohibition against tax dollars being used for religious education.…”
— Jean Lewandowski, Nashuasupports
“Religious schools often provide high quality academic and social learning environments. To exclude them would be to ignore the benefits these schools have provided to numerous low-income families.…”
— Bevin Kennedy, Newmarketopposes
“The Supreme Court of the United States has already ruled that religious schools can't be excluded from these types of programs solely for religious reasons as that's a violation of the First Amendment of the US Constitution.…”
— Laura Barker, Hooksettopposes
“Follow the law and Constitution. The Supreme Court of the United States has already ruled that religious schools can't be excluded from these types of programs solely for religious reasons as that's a violation of the First Amendment of the US Constitution.”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuaopposes

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
  • Mar 12, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate10–8
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Mar 26, 2025HouseRoll callIndefinitely Postpone (Rep. Ladd)Adopted186–156How they voted
    Overall
    54% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    184–398% yea
    Democrats
    2–1531% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 24, 2025Public hearingHouse Education Funding3:17:06–3:23:146m 8slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 12, 2025Public hearingHouse Education Funding58:15–59:381m 23slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 26, 2025Floor debateHouse floor7:11:12–7:16:084m 56slocated in the stream transcriptIndefinitely Postpone (Rep. Ladd) — adopted, roll call 186-156

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Education Funding HJ 3 P. 15
  2. Jan 24, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/24/2025 12:45 pm LOB 205-207
  3. Mar 11, 2025House==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 03/11/2025 10:30 am LOB 205-207
  4. Mar 12, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/12/2025 10:30 am LOB 201
  5. Mar 12, 2025HouseMajority : Inexpedient to Legislate 03/12/2025 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 17 P. 48
  6. Mar 18, 2025HouseMinority : Ought to Pass
  7. Mar 26, 2025HouseIndefinitely Postpone (Rep. Ladd): MA RC 186-156 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 112

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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