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HB 771 · 2025 · House · Education Funding Committee

Open enrollment school funding changes

AI-generated

relative to funding for open enrollment schools.

Changes how funding for open enrollment schools is sent and received and requires school districts to establish a budget line item for open enrollment tuition costs.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · July 22, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill: I. Changes how funding for open enrollment schools is sent and received. II. Requires school districts to establish a line item in their operating budgets that reflects expenditures for open enrollment tuition costs.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“There shall be no tuition charge for any pupil attending an open enrollment school located in that pupil's resident district.”
RSA 194-D:5
“Each school district shall establish a line item in their operating budget, on an annual basis, reflecting estimated expenditures for open enrollment school tuition and offsetting revenue estimates from sending school districts [That portion of a school district's estimated expenditures on open enrollment school tuition shall be shown as a separate line item in a school district's budget]. 211:4 Effective Date.”
RSA 194-D:6
“For an open enrollment school authorized by a receiving [the] school district, the pupil's sending [resident] district shall pay the receiving district [to such school] an amount equal to not less than 80 percent of the sending [that] district's average cost per pupil as determined by the department of education using the most recent available data as reported by the sending district to the department.”
RSA 194-D:5
“In accordance with current department of education standards, the funding and educational decision-making process for children with disabilities attending a chartered public or open enrollment school shall be the responsibility of the sending school district and shall retain all current options available to the parent and to the school district.”
RSA 194-D:5

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Katy PeternelRPrimeVice Chair· Education Policy and Administration
  • Rep. Rick LaddRChair· Education Funding
  • Sen. David RochefortRChair· Health and Human Services

Also: Rep. Paul TerryR, Rep. Kevin VervilleR

Public testimony

119 signed in online · 22 wrote testimony

4% support95% oppose1% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Members of the committee, thank you for considering this online testimony.  I regret that I was unable to appear in person today. I serve as superintendent of the Prospect Mountain JMA, the public school entity that operates Prospect Mountain High School in Alton.…”
— Timothy Broadrick, Alton & Barnstead · The Prospect Mountain JMA & Prospect Mountain High Schoolsupports
“I am writing to express my concerns and opposition to HB 771, which introduces significant changes to the funding structure for open enrollment schools.…”
— Tonja Neve, Strathamopposes
“As a public school teacher, I am scared of what this bill will do to my school. I am fortunate to work in a district with support from the public, as well as have access to many different resources.…”
— Chelsea Montana, Nottinghamopposes
“As both a parent and a public school teacher, I am firmly against this bill. It would lead to the overcrowding of well-rated districts, impacting the ability of those schools to meet the needs of all learners. It would leave our neediest students and families at a disadvantage.”
— Shannon Taber, Exeteropposes

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 18, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass10–8
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Mar 6, 2025HouseRoll callOught to PassAdopted205–169How they voted
    Overall
    55% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    204–399% yea
    Democrats
    1–1661% yea
  • May 15, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1881s4–2
    Overall
    67% yea
  • May 15, 2025SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2025-1881sadopted
  • May 15, 2025SenateRoll callOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-1881sAdopted15–8How they voted
    Overall
    65% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    15–0100% yea
    Democrats
    0–80% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • Jun 12, 2025HouseRoll callHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-1881s (Rep. Ladd)Adopted189–160How they voted
    Overall
    54% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    188–597% yea
    Democrats
    1–1551% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as adopted by both chambers
  • Jun 26, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 7, 2025Public hearingHouse Education Funding4:23:01–4:29:566m 55slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 18, 2025Public hearingHouse Education Funding1:17:39–1:22:004m 21slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 6, 2025Floor debateHouse floor1:14:39–1:26:4512m 6slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass — adopted, roll call 205-169; Referred to Finance; Referral Waived by Committee Chair per House Rule 47(f)
  • Apr 17, 2025Public hearingSenate Education Finance39:44–57:5318m 9slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 15, 2025Floor debateSenate floor2:18:57–2:25:566m 59slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1881s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-1881s — adopted, roll call 15-8; Committee Amendment # 2025-1881s — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 12, 2025Floor debateHouse floor38:34–40:452m 11slocated in the stream transcriptHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-1881s (Rep. Ladd) — adopted, roll call 189-160
  • Jun 26, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Adopted — voice vote

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. 26
  2. Feb 7, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/07/2025 01:00 pm LOB 205-207
  3. Feb 18, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 02/18/2025 10:30 am LOB 205-207
  4. Feb 18, 2025HouseMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass 02/18/2025 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 14 P. 20
  5. Feb 25, 2025HouseMinority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Mar 6, 2025HouseOught to Pass: MA RC 205-169 03/06/2025 HJ 7 P. 35
  7. Mar 6, 2025HouseReferred to Finance 03/06/2025 HJ 7 P. 37
  8. Mar 6, 2025HouseReferral Waived by Committee Chair per House Rule 47(f) 03/06/2025 HJ 7 P. 46
  9. Mar 6, 2025SenIntroduced 03/06/2025 and Referred to Education Finance; SJ 7
  10. Apr 25, 2025Sen==CANCELLED== Hearing: 04/25/2025, Room 100, SH, 09:20 am; SC 17
  11. Apr 17, 2025SenHearing: 04/17/2025, Room 103, SH, 01:20 pm; SC 17
  12. May 15, 2025SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1881s, 05/15/2025, Vote 4-2; SC 21
  13. May 15, 2025SenCommittee Amendment # 2025-1881s, AA, VV; 05/15/2025; SJ 13
  14. May 15, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-1881s, RC 15Y-8N, MA; OT3rdg; 05/15/2025; SJ 13
  15. Jun 12, 2025HouseHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-1881s (Rep. Ladd): MA RC 189-160 06/12/2025 HJ 17 P. 4
  16. Jun 26, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 60
  17. Jun 26, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/26/2025); SJ 18
  18. Jul 15, 2025HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 07/15/2025; Chapter 211; eff.09/13/2025 HJ 18

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Background reading

Evergreen reading on the policy area — spanning perspectives — not coverage of this specific bill.

  • Open enrollment policiesComparative

    Education Commission of the States — Mandatory versus voluntary open enrollment across the states, and how the money follows.AI-generated

  • Public schools without boundariesPro-choice

    Reason Foundation — The case for cross-district enrollment, with state report cards.AI-generated

  • Open enrollmentTeacher union

    National Education Association — The objections from districts and unions: transportation, special education, and district finances.AI-generated

Documents (PDF)

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