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SB 295 · 2025 · Senate · Education Finance Committee

Expanding education freedom accounts

AI-generated

(New Title) relative to education freedom accounts.

Removes household income limits on eligibility for education freedom accounts, sets an enrollment cap that can grow annually based on prior-year usage, and establishes priority enrollment guidelines for certain student groups.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · June 11, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✓House
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill increases the number of students eligible for education freedom accounts by removing household income thresholds.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Victoria SullivanRPrimeVice Chair· Education
  • Sen. Bill GannonRChair· Judiciary
  • Sen. Keith MurphyRChair· Education Finance
  • Sen. Daniel InnisRVice Chair· Finance
  • Sen. Kevin AvardRDeputy Majority Whip
  • Sen. Howard PearlRChair· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Sen. James GrayRChair· Finance
  • Rep. Kristin NobleRChair· Education Policy and Administration
  • Rep. Kimberly RiceRVice Chair· Children and Family Law
  • Rep. Jeanine NotterRAssistant Majority Leader

Also: Rep. Valerie McDonnellR

Public testimony

956 signed in online · 397 wrote testimony

4% support96% oppose0% neutral

ForEFAs give families freedom to choose private, religious, or home education

AgainstDrains funding from public schools and raises property taxes

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I support this bill. NH needs to change how it funds education. Funding the children instead of the system eliminates the special interest grift and corruption. The complexity of SWEPT is concealing systemic failure statewide.…”
— tom luther, claremontsupports
“As a mother of 4 grade school children, I support this bill for the freedom to support what’s best for our children and inspire competition to improve all schools in NH.”
— Bailey Sweet, Greenfieldsupports
“Public monies should be used for public schools - period. If people want to send their children to private school, they should pay for that themselves. It is our responsibility as citizens to ensure our children are educated.…”
— Erin Yaeger, Salemsupports
“Unlimited access to school vouchers will further strain our already challenged educational funding in the state of NH. It’s one thing if you are in a failing school system however we should be investing in our public school system not diverting this money to private schools.…”
— Heather Reardon, Brookline · Myselflopposes
“This administration started off with a deficit. The new budget proposes to make many cuts. This year the current school voucher program is projected to cost the state $28 million dollars. This bill will increase that to at least $60 million or more. Please OPPOSE SB 295.”
— Anne Grossi, Bedfordopposes
“This bill requires tax payers to pay for a non-transparent system over which they have no control (e.g. private school curriculum)”
— Anthony Iannazzi, Leeopposes

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

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings

  • 2025-02-123:00 pmSenate Education FinanceSH 100Public hearing
  • 2025-04-159:30 amHouse Education FundingLOB 205-207Public hearingrescheduled
  • 2025-05-029:30 amHouse Education FundingLOB 205-207Public hearingcancelled
  • 2025-05-2310:00 amHouse Finance - Division IILOB 209Public hearing
  • 2025-05-2810:00 amHouse FinanceLOB 210-211Public hearing

Legislative history

  1. Jan 30, 2025SenIntroduced 01/30/2025 and Referred to Education Finance; SJ 4
  2. Feb 12, 2025SenHearing: 02/12/2025, Room 100, SH, 03:20 pm; SC 9
  3. Mar 13, 2025SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0793s, 03/13/2025, Vote 3-2; SC 12
  4. Mar 13, 2025SenCommittee Amendment # 2025-0793s, AA, VV; 03/13/2025; SJ 7
  5. Mar 13, 2025SenSen. Perkins Kwoka Floor Amendment # 2025-0963s, RC 8Y-16N, AF; 03/13/2025; SJ 7
  6. Mar 13, 2025SenSen. Altschiller Floor Amendment # 2025-0887s, RC 8Y-16N, AF; 03/13/2025; SJ 7
  7. Mar 13, 2025SenSen. Prentiss Floor Amendment # 2025-0886s, RC 8Y-16N, AF; 03/13/2025; SJ 7
  8. Mar 13, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-0793s, RC 16Y-8N, MA; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 03/13/2025; SJ 7
  9. Mar 27, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass, 03/27/2025, Vote 5-2; SC 14
  10. Mar 27, 2025SenOught to Pass: RC 16Y-8N, MA; OT3rdg; 03/27/2025; SJ 9
  11. Mar 27, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Education Funding HJ 11 P. 113
  12. Apr 15, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 04/15/2025 01:45 pm LOB 205-207
  13. May 2, 2025House==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 05/02/2025 09:30 am LOB 205-207
  14. May 1, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 05/01/2025 01:00 pm LOB 205-207
  15. May 1, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1857h 05/01/2025 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 23 P. 13
  16. May 1, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  17. May 8, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-1857h: AA DV 185-155 05/08/2025 HJ 14 P. 32
  18. May 8, 2025HousePrevious Question MA DV 195-166 05/08/2025 HJ 14 P. 33
  19. May 8, 2025HouseFLAM # 2025-1979h (Rep. Luneau): AF RC 165-199 05/08/2025 HJ 14 P. 35
  20. May 8, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-1857h: MA RC 188-176 05/08/2025 HJ 14 P. 35
  21. May 8, 2025HouseReferred to Finance 05/08/2025 HJ 14 P. 39
  22. May 23, 2025HouseDivision II Work Session: 05/23/2025 10:00 am LOB 209
  23. May 28, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 05/28/2025 10:00 am LOB 210-211
  24. May 28, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2271h 05/28/2025 (Vote 14-11; RC) HC 27 P. 22
  25. May 28, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  26. Jun 5, 2025HouseSpecial Order to next order of business (Rep. Osborne): MA VV 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 94
  27. Jun 5, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-2271h: AA VV 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 95
  28. Jun 5, 2025HouseFLAM # 2025-2702h (Rep. Luneau): AF RC 167-201 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 96
  29. Jun 5, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2271h: MA RC 190-178 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 98
  30. Jun 5, 2025HouseReconsider OTPA (Rep. Osborne): MF RC 171-198 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 100
  31. Jun 5, 2025SenSen. Murphy Moved to Concur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 06/05/2025; SJ 15
  32. Jun 5, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/05/2025); SJ 16
  33. Jun 5, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 167
  34. Jun 10, 2025SenSigned by the Governor on 06/10/2025; Chapter 0075
  35. Jun 11, 2025SenI. Sections 4 and 6 of this act shall take effect as provided in Section 7
  36. Jun 10, 2025SenII. Remainder Effective 06/10/2025

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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