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HB 319 · 2025 · House · Education Funding Committee

Ending half-day kindergarten busing requirement

AI-generated

(New Title) relative to the responsibility of local school districts to provide transportation for pupils in kindergarten.

Removes the requirement that school districts provide transportation to half-day kindergarten students.AI-generated

Status

Vetoed; the override vote failed, so the veto stands · December 17, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✕Governor
  5. Law

Governor's veto message

“By the authority vested in me, pursuant to part II, Article 44 of the New Hampshire Constitution, on June 3, 2025, I have vetoed House Bill 319, relative to the responsibility of local school districts to provide transportation for pupils in kindergarten.”
— Gov. Kelly Ayotte · Jun 3, 2025 · excerpt
Governor's press releaseHouse Journal 19, p. 13

The House voted 182–173 on the override (Dec 17, 2025) — short of the two-thirds required, so the veto was sustained. See the roll call.

Analysis

This bill removes the requirement that school districts provide transportation to half-day kindergarten students.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as passed by both chambers. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“The local school district shall furnish transportation to full-day pupils in kindergarten through grade 8 who live more than 2 miles from the school to which they are assigned.”
RSA 189:6
“The local school district may furnish transportation to pupils in half-day kindergarten programs, full-day kindergarten through grade 8 who live 2 miles or less from the school to which they are assigned, and to pupils in grades 9 through 12, when it finds that this is appropriate, and shall furnish it when so directed by the commissioner of education.”
RSA 189:6

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Keith AmmonRPrimeMajority Floor Leader
  • Rep. Lisa PostRClerk· Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Public testimony

23 signed in online · 3 wrote testimony

17% support83% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“This bill removes the requirement for schools to provide meals to half-day kindergarten students. We oppose this bill because we know first-hand how important school meals are for the families that we serve in our affordable rental housing properties.…”
— Carmen Lorentz, Laconia · Lakes Region Community Developersopposes
“Students should be fully supported with transportation and meals from kindergarten (whether half days or full days) through 12th grade. Please vote this bill inexpedient to legislate. Thank you.”
— Rina Petit, Litchfieldopposes

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 11, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0345h (NT)10–8
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Mar 13, 2025HouseVoice voteAmendment 2025-0345hadopted
  • Mar 13, 2025HouseRoll callOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0345hAdopted204–171How they voted
    Overall
    54% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    203–498% yea
    Democrats
    1–1661% yea
    Other
    0–10% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 1, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass3–1
    Overall
    75% yea
  • May 1, 2025SenateRoll callOught to PassAdopted13–8How they voted
    Overall
    62% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    13–0100% yea
    Democrats
    0–80% yea
  • May 22, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted
  • Dec 17, 2025HouseRoll callOverride the veto — shall the bill become law notwithstanding the objectionsFailed182–173How they voted
    Overall
    51% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    181–1294% yea
    Democrats
    1–1611% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 24, 2025Public hearingHouse Education Funding2:08:16–2:10:442m 28slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 11, 2025Public hearingHouse Education Funding1:03:24–1:04:341m 10slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0345h (NT) — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 13, 2025Floor debateHouse floor3:25:12–3:27:542m 42slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0345h — adopted, roll call 204-171; Amendment # 2025-0345h (NT) — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 1, 2025Public hearingSenate EducationWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full stream==RECESSED== Hearing
  • Apr 8, 2025Public hearingSenate Education1:58–8:456m 47slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 1, 2025Floor debateSenate floor29:59–32:252m 26slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, roll call 13-8
  • May 22, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Adopted — voice vote
  • Dec 17, 2025Floor debateHouse floor51:30–55:113m 41slocated in the stream transcriptVeto Sustained — roll call 182-173

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 8, 2025HouseIntroduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Education Funding HJ 2 P. 14
  2. Jan 24, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/24/2025 11:30 am LOB 205-207
  3. Feb 11, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 02/11/2025 10:00 am LOB 205-207
  4. Feb 11, 2025HouseMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0345h (NT) 02/11/2025 (Vote 10-8; RC)
  5. Feb 14, 2025HouseMinority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Mar 13, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0345h (NT): AA VV 03/13/2025 HJ 8 P. 48
  7. Mar 13, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0345h: MA RC 204-171 03/13/2025 HJ 8 P. 48
  8. Mar 13, 2025SenIntroduced 03/13/2025 and Referred to Education; SJ 8
  9. Apr 1, 2025Sen==RECESSED== Hearing: 04/01/2025, Room 101, LOB, 09:30 am; SC 15
  10. Apr 8, 2025SenHearing: 04/08/2025, Room 101, LOB, 09:15 am; SC 16
  11. May 1, 2025SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass, 05/01/2025, Vote 3-1; SC 19
  12. May 1, 2025SenOught to Pass: RC 13Y-8N, MA; OT3rdg; 05/01/2025; SJ 11
  13. May 22, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/22/2025); SJ 15
  14. May 22, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 51
  15. Jun 3, 2025HouseVetoed by Governor Ayotte 06/03/2025 HJ 19 P. 13
  16. Dec 17, 2025HouseVeto Sustained 12/17/2025: RC 182-173 Lacking Necessary Two-Thirds Vote HJ 19

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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