HB 738 · 2025 · House · Education Policy and Administration Committee
Background checks for voucher schools
AI-generatedrequiring certain non-public schools or education service providers that accept public funds to perform background checks on all employees and volunteers.
Requires nonpublic schools and education service providers that accept public funds, such as scholarship or education freedom account students, to conduct criminal history background checks on all employees and volunteers.AI-generated
Status
Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 6, 2025- ✓Introduced
- ✕House
- Senate
- Governor
- Law
Analysis
This bill requires nonpublic schools and education service providers that accept public funds to comply with requirements for criminal history background checks for employees and volunteers.
From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.
Official record
gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source
Sponsors
- Rep. Anita BurroughsDRanking Member· Commerce and Consumer Affairs
- Rep. Patricia CornellDRanking Member· Education Policy
- Sen. Suzanne PrentissDAssistant Democratic Leader
Also: Rep. Tracy BricchiD, Sen. Debra AltschillerD, Sen. Donovan FentonD, Sen. Tara ReardonD
Public testimony
1,149 signed in online · 284 wrote testimony
46% support54% oppose0% neutral
ForBackground checks should match public-school requirements
AgainstGovernment overreach on parental rights and privacy
AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.
Read the argumentsIn their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted
“Children attending these alternative schools should have similar protective measures with regard to adults they are in contact with as those in our traditional public schools.”
“I write to you as a concerned parent, educator, and resident of NH supporting the requirement of background checks for anyone wishing to work with children outside of a "home" setting.…”
“This is common sense, public schools require a background check, licensed daycare require a background check, it is a natural progression to not want convicted offenders having a position of any authority over our children.”
“I am in OPPOSITION to HB738 as a RSA 193A home educator. This bill would subject me to a criminal background check if my children gather in community with any EFA or ETC recipient's children.…”
“I am a former traditional unfunded home educator under RSA 193a. If I had had to perform background checks on all the people who helped me educate my child - who is a freshman in college with a 3.64 gpa - it would have made our lives very difficult.…”
“This bill is an overreach of government. This bill has been shut down before. EFAs are not taxpayers funded.”
“I am glad to hear the opposition that occurred during the House Education Committee meeting on 10/11/22 and was encouraged to see a change of the wording to exclude home education families IF the bill was to be moved forward.…”
Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.
Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026
Hearings
- 2025-02-121:00 pmHouse Education Policy and AdministrationLOB 205-207Public hearing
- 2025-02-189:30 amHouse Education Policy and AdministrationLOB 202-204Public hearing
- 2025-02-199:30 amHouse Education Policy and AdministrationLOB 205-207Public hearing
Legislative history
- Jan 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Education Policy and Administration HJ 3 P. 25
- Feb 12, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/12/2025 03:00 pm LOB 205-207
- Feb 18, 2025House==RECESSED== Executive Session: 02/18/2025 09:30 am LOB 202-204
- Feb 19, 2025House==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 02/19/2025 09:30 am LOB 205-207
- Feb 19, 2025House: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/19/2025 (Vote 15-2; CC) HC 14 P. 6
- Mar 6, 2025HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/06/2025 HJ 7 P. 7
Coverage
No reporting linked yet.
Documents (PDF)
Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.