Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
← All bills

HB 765 · 2025 · House · Education Policy and Administration Committee

Electing school superintendents

AI-generated

consolidating school administrative units and making school superintendents jobs an elected position.

Consolidates the authority and duties of school administrative units, gives school boards power over curriculum development and implementation, and makes school superintendents elected officials whose compensation is set by county conventions.AI-generated

Status

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

Analysis

This bill: I. Consolidates the authority and duties of school administrative units. II. Empowers school boards to develop, evaluate, and implement school curriculums. III. Makes school superintendents elected officials.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Dan McGuireRPrimeVice Chair· Finance
  • Rep. Kenneth WeylerRChair· Finance
  • Rep. Bob LynnRChair· Judiciary
  • Sen. Victoria SullivanRVice Chair· Education
  • Sen. Ruth WardRChair· Education
  • Sen. Keith MurphyRDeputy President Pro Tempore

Also: Rep. Glenn CordelliR, Rep. James TierneyR, Rep. Riché ColcombeR

Public testimony

953 signed in online · 313 wrote testimony

2% support98% oppose0% neutral

ForElection increases accountability to the public

AgainstSuperintendent should stay a qualified appointment, not an election

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I support placing control of school curricula more solidly in the hands of parents at the most local level possible - and greater accountability for those who oversee the curriculum choices for our children.”
— Kate Worden Buckner, Amherstsupports
“Being an elected would not be a bad thing they need give a reason that they want the job.”
— Abigail Bellemore, Chestersupports
“I urge you to SUPPORT HB765 as it is written. This bill will make school superintendents elected officials, which means that they will be chosen by and for the People of New Hampshire; the same People whose children are attending these schools.…”
— James Gardner, Keenesupports
“NHSBA is opposed to this bill based on it's impacts on local control and the role of locally elected school board members.…”
— Becky Wilson, Concord · New Hampshire School Boards Associationopposes
“Having elected officials serve as superintendent positions is an awful idea.”
— Ashley dePreaux, Merrimackopposes
“I am not in favor of this bill. I feel strongly that electing a superintendent opens a can of worms where unqualified individuals could end up in a very important leadership position, at best, creating inconsistencies in schools, at worst causing harm.”
— Carrie Young, Bowopposes

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

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings

  • 2025-02-109:30 amHouse Education Policy and AdministrationLOB 205-207Public hearing
  • 2025-03-179:30 amHouse Education Policy and AdministrationLOB 205-207Public hearing

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Education Policy and Administration HJ 3 P. 26
  2. Feb 10, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/10/2025 10:45 am LOB 205-207
  3. Mar 17, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/17/2025 09:30 am LOB 205-207
  4. Mar 17, 2025House: Inexpedient to Legislate 03/17/2025 (Vote 18-0; CC) HC 17 P. 12
  5. Mar 26, 2025HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 17

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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