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HB 520 · 2025 · House · Judiciary Committee

Subpoena power for education hearings

AI-generated

relative to authorizing hearing officers of the department of education to issue subpoenas.

Authorizes hearing officers at the department of education to issue subpoenas for witnesses and documents when investigating alleged violations of the educator code of conduct.AI-generated

Status

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

Analysis

This bill authorizes hearing officers of the department of education to issue subpoenas.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Bob LynnRPrimeChair· Judiciary
  • Rep. Katelyn KuttabRClerk· Judiciary

Also: Rep. Glenn CordelliR, Rep. James ThibaultR

Public testimony

846 signed in online · 169 wrote testimony

1% support99% oppose0% neutral

ForWould improve oversight and accountability of schools

AgainstDistrust of Commissioner Edelblut / risk of political misuse

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I have been through due process a number of times because there is no oversight of the schools and their ack of providing services to disabled students. There is no way for a pro se parent to get a subpoena much less an lawyer.…”
— Moira Ryan, Londonderrysupports
“NH should be a model for trans tolerance in America and set an example by shifting focus away from this 1 percent and toward issues that more substantively impact the lives of working New Hampshire citizens.”
— Ashley Shailer, Bedfordopposes
“I strongly oppose HB 520 and I hope you do, too. This unnecessary bill allows Commissioner Edelblut (whom lost no one who works in the filed of NH education admires or appreciates or respects) or his designee to issue a subpoena when carrying out investigations under the educator code of conduct.…”
— Lynn McRae, Lymeopposes
“There is no reason for these powers to be granted. They are already in place and can only lead to more corruption”
— Christine Wallrich, Manchesteropposes
“This is just another way to harass teachers and make it more difficult to educate our children. It would add one more reason why teachers are leaving the profession, and serves no purpose other than harassment.”
— Barbara Rogers, Richmondneutral

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

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings

  • 2025-02-199:00 amHouse JudiciaryLOB 206-208Public hearing
  • 2025-03-059:30 amHouse JudiciaryLOB 206-208Public hearingrescheduled
  • 2025-03-101:00 pmHouse JudiciaryLOB 206-208Public hearing
  • 2025-05-151:00 pmSenate JudiciarySH 100Public hearing

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Judiciary HJ 3 P. 14
  2. Feb 19, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/19/2025 09:45 am LOB 206-208
  3. Mar 5, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 03/05/2025 09:00 am LOB 206-208
  4. Mar 7, 2025House==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 03/07/2025 10:00 am LOB 206-208
  5. Mar 10, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/10/2025 01:00 pm LOB 206-208
  6. Mar 10, 2025HouseMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass 03/10/2025 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 17 P. 34
  7. Mar 14, 2025HouseMinority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0842h
  8. Mar 26, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0842h: AF RC 154-190 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 73
  9. Mar 26, 2025HouseOught to Pass: MA RC 193-155 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 76
  10. Mar 27, 2025SenIntroduced 03/27/2025 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 10
  11. May 15, 2025SenHearing: 05/15/2025, Room 100, SH, 01:30 pm; SC 21
  12. May 22, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass, 05/22/2025, Vote 3-2; SC 22A
  13. May 22, 2025SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/22/2025; SJ 14
  14. Jun 26, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 59
  15. Jun 26, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/26/2025); SJ 18
  16. Jul 15, 2025HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 07/15/2025; Chapter 194; eff.01/01/2026 HJ 18

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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