Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
← All bills

SB 210 · 2025 · Senate · Education Committee

Bullying prevention and school choice

AI-generated

(Second New Title) relative to bullying and cyberbullying prevention and relative to allowing parents to send their children to any school district they choose.

Amends the definition of negligence for bullying and cyberbullying, requires reporting on waiver and cyberbullying case data, mandates antibullying procedures in student handbooks, and allows parents to enroll children in schools outside their resident district.AI-generated

Status

Died — the House and Senate did not agree · June 12, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕Senate
  3. House
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill: I. Amends the meaning of "negligence" as it applies to bullying and cyberbullying. II. Requires the department of education to report the number of waivers granted for parental notification, number of waivers granted for investigation extensions, and the number of out-of-state cyberbullying cases reported and investigated. III. Requires antibullying procedure to be included in the student handbook and that alleged victims get a written copy of their rights, protections, and support services available to them. IV. Allows parents to send their children to public schools outside of their resident district.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“Any person aggrieved as a result of gross negligence or willful misconduct in violation of any provision of RSA 193-F:4 may initiate an action against a school district or chartered public school and may recover court costs and reasonable attorney's fees as the prevailing party.”
RSA 193-F:9
“A school district shall post the total capacity of each individual school in the district, the capacity of each grade level, and the number of vacancies in each individual school in the district on the district website by the first of each month.”
RSA 194-D:2
“There shall be no tuition charge for any pupil attending [an open enrollment] a public school [located in that pupil's resident district].”
RSA 194-D:5
“The state board shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, consistent with the provisions of this chapter relative to the administration of open enrollment in public schools across the state.”
RSA 194-D:7

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Donovan FentonDPrime
  • Sen. Suzanne PrentissDAssistant Democratic Leader
  • Sen. Bill GannonRChair· Judiciary
  • Sen. Rebecca Perkins KwokaDMinority Leader
  • Sen. Cindy RosenwaldDDeputy Democratic Leader
  • Sen. Denise RicciardiRDeputy Majority Leader
  • Rep. Nicholas GermanaDDeputy Democratic Floor Leader

Also: Sen. Debra AltschillerD, Sen. David WattersD, Sen. Pat LongD, Rep. Jodi NewellD

Public testimony

120 signed in online · 14 wrote testimony

51% support48% oppose1% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“This is a bill worthy of support. All students should feel like they have a safe learning space to go to during the day. As an educator, I fiercely believe that this bill is needed and welcome.”
— Krista Butts, Leesupports
“I am in support of this bill regarding establishing a committe to study school bullying.”
— Amy Trafton, Durhamsupports
“School bullying is an overwhelmingly disastrous issue that is, unfortunately, growing and our children are suffering.”
— Cynthia Vascak, Camptonsupports
“I support creating a study committee to study the issue of school bullying”
— Anne Eiseman, Durhamopposes
“I'm uncomfortable with some of the language used in this proposal, and skeptical of why this issue was proposed. Bullying is a nonpartisan issue -- let's not use it as a way of placing further restrictions on schools and teachers.”
— Ian Rogers, Warneropposes
“The bill is being rushed, without clear language or definition.”
— Ann Yenchick, North Hamptonopposes
“Where are the parents on this committee? Those most deeply impacted don't have a seat at the table and many have to move their kid to a different school to get it to stop. The schools only really have to have a policy in place with no follow up and no results!…”
— Moira Ryan, LONDONDERRY, NHneutral

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 27, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass3–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 27, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • May 27, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2318 (NT)9–8
    Overall
    53% yea
  • Jun 5, 2025HouseDivisionAmendment 2025-2318hAdopted185–147
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Jun 5, 2025HouseRoll callAmendment 2025-2651hAdopted193–160How they voted
    Overall
    55% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    192–398% yea
    Democrats
    1–1571% yea
  • Jun 5, 2025HouseRoll callOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2318 and 2025-2651hAdopted193–159How they voted
    Overall
    55% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    193–199% yea
    Democrats
    0–1580% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • Jun 12, 2025SenateVoice voteSen. Ward Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment; Requests C of Cadopted
  • Jun 12, 2025HouseVoice voteHouse Accedes to Senate Request for CofC (Rep. Cordelli)adopted

Hearings and debates

  • Mar 4, 2025Public hearingSenate Education1:10:30–1:11:571m 27slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Mar 27, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 7, 2025Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration3:00:31–3:02:031m 32slocated in the stream transcript==RECESSED== Public Hearing
  • Apr 23, 2025Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration4:23:07–4:24:151m 8slocated in the stream transcript==CONTINUED== Public Hearing
  • May 20, 2025Public hearingHouse Education Policy and AdministrationWatchnamed in a list of bills, not taken up — opens the full stream==RECESSED== Executive Session
  • May 27, 2025Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration1:05:01–1:07:142m 13slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2318 (NT) — roll call; Public Hearing on Amendment # 2025-2318h; ==CONTINUED== Executive Session
  • Jun 5, 2025Floor debateHouse floor6:42:10–6:50:228m 12slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2318 and 2025-2651h — adopted, roll call 193-159; Amendment # 2025-2318h (NT) — adopted, division 185-147; Amendment # 2025-2651h (NT) — adopted, roll call 193-160
  • Jun 12, 2025Floor debateSenate floor11:28–13:372m 9slocated in the stream transcriptSen. Ward Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment; Requests C of C — adopted, voice vote; President Appoints: Senators Ward, Sullivan, Fenton
  • Jun 12, 2025Floor debateHouse floor1:01:05–1:02:321m 27slocated in the stream transcriptHouse Accedes to Senate Request for CofC (Rep. Cordelli) — adopted, voice vote; Speaker Appoints: Reps. Cordelli, Drye, Noble, Freeman

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025SenIntroduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Education; SJ 3
  2. Mar 4, 2025SenHearing: 03/04/2025, Room 101, LOB, 09:15 am; SC 11
  3. Mar 27, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass, 03/27/2025; Vote 3-0; CC; SC 14
  4. Mar 27, 2025SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/27/2025; SJ 9
  5. Mar 27, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Education Policy and Administration HJ 11 P. 112
  6. Apr 7, 2025House==RECESSED== Public Hearing: 04/07/2025 01:00 pm LOB 205-207
  7. Apr 23, 2025House==CONTINUED== Public Hearing: 04/23/2025 01:00 pm LOB 205-207
  8. May 20, 2025House==RECESSED== Executive Session: 05/20/2025 09:30 am LOB 206-208
  9. May 27, 2025HousePublic Hearing on Amendment # 2025-2318h: 05/27/2025 10:00 am LOB 205-207
  10. May 27, 2025House==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 05/27/2025 01:30 pm LOB 205-207
  11. May 27, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2318 (NT) 05/27/2025 (Vote 9-8; RC) HC 27 P. 18
  12. May 28, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  13. Jun 5, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-2318h (NT): AA DV 185-147 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 114
  14. Jun 5, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-2651h (NT): AA RC 193-160 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 116
  15. Jun 5, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2318 and 2025-2651h: MA RC 193-159 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 121
  16. Jun 12, 2025SenSen. Ward Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment; Requests C of C, MA, VV; 06/12/2025; SJ 16
  17. Jun 12, 2025SenPresident Appoints: Senators Ward, Sullivan, Fenton; 06/12/2025; SJ 16
  18. Jun 17, 2025SenCommittee of Conference Meeting: 06/17/2025, 01:00 pm, Room 100, SH
  19. Jun 12, 2025HouseHouse Accedes to Senate Request for CofC (Rep. Cordelli): MA VV 06/12/2025 HJ 17 P. 9
  20. Jun 12, 2025HouseSpeaker Appoints: Reps. Cordelli, Drye, Noble, Freeman 06/12/2025 HJ 17 P. 9
  21. Jun 19, 2025SenCommittee of Conference Meeting: 06/19/2025, 01:30 pm, Room 100, SH
  22. Jun 17, 2025HouseConferee Change: Rep. S. Smith Replaces Rep. Noble 06/17/2025 HJ 17 P. 24
  23. Jun 17, 2025HouseConferee Change: Rep. Osborne Replaces Rep. Drye 06/17/2025 HJ 17 P. 25
  24. Jun 20, 2025HouseConference Committee Report: Not Filed HJ 17
  25. Jun 19, 2025SenConference Committee Report; Not Signed Off; SJ 16

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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