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HB 557 · 2025 · House · Municipal and County Government Committee

School budget ballot information

AI-generated

relative to the information that appears on the school budget ballot.

Requires certain information to be printed on the school budget ballot.AI-generated

Status

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

Analysis

This bill requires the printing of certain information on the school budget ballot.

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

“The school district clerk shall prepare ballots for school district elections in the same manner as town clerks for non-partisan town elections, as provided in RSA 669:23 and 669:24, except that the ballot shall be of a different color than any other ballot used at the election.”
RSA 671:20
“The school district clerk shall prepare ballots for school district elections in the same manner as town clerks for non-partisan or partisan town elections, as provided in RSA 669:23 and 669:24, except that the ballot shall be of a different color than any other ballot used at the election.”
RSA 671:20
“Immediately preceding the question of adopting a school budget, the following information shall be printed on the ballot:”
RSA 671:20
“If HB 356 of the 2025 regular legislative session becomes law, section 1 of this act shall not take effect and section 2 of this act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.”
RSA 671:20

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Ross BerryRPrimeChair· Election Law
  • Rep. Joe AlexanderRChair· Housing
  • Rep. Jason OsborneRMajority Leader
  • Rep. Joe SweeneyRDeputy Majority Leader

Also: Rep. Glenn CordelliR, Rep. Samuel FarringtonR

Public testimony

57 signed in online · 10 wrote testimony

9% support91% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“AFT-NH opposes this bill because it is duplicative of much of the information that is already available to voters numerous times during the school district budget process.…”
— Debrah Howes, Bow · American Federation of Teachers - NHopposes
“I oppose this bill as it adds administrative burden to school districts while simultaneously attempting to criticize school districts for the number of administrators they have. This information is already available to New Hampshire residents.…”
— Kristin Roth, Lymeopposes
“HB557 is another state mandate on school districts at a time when the State of New Hampshire is still not meeting its constitutional obligation to provide an adequate education. First fund the state's share of its local education costs and reduce the property tax burden!!…”
— 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
  • Jan 9, 2025HouseVoice voteVacated and Referred to Education Policy and Administration (Rep. Pauer)adopted
  • Mar 17, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1031h10–8
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Mar 27, 2025HouseVoice voteAmendment 2025-1031hadopted
  • Mar 27, 2025HouseDivisionOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-1031hAdopted202–166
    Overall
    55% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 15, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1878s4–2
    Overall
    67% yea
  • May 15, 2025SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2025-1878sadopted
  • May 15, 2025SenateRoll callOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-1878sAdopted15–8How they voted
    Overall
    65% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    15–0100% yea
    Democrats
    0–80% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • May 22, 2025HouseVoice voteHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-1878s and Requests CofC (Rep. Osborne)adopted
    Resulting text: Bill as adopted by both chambers
  • Jun 5, 2025SenateVoice voteSen. Murphy Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conferenceadopted
  • Jun 26, 2025SenateVoice voteConference committee report 2025-2767cadopted
  • Jun 26, 2025HouseDivisionConference committee report 2025-2767cAdopted196–156
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Jun 26, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2929eadopted
  • Jun 26, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 9, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamIntroduced (in recess); Vacated and Referred to Education Policy and Administration (Rep. Pauer) — adopted, voice vote
  • Feb 5, 2025Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration1:57:02–2:01:114m 9slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 12, 2025Public hearingHouse Education Policy and AdministrationWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamExecutive Session
  • Mar 27, 2025Floor debateHouse floor46:26–51:305m 4slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-1031h — adopted, division 202-166; Amendment # 2025-1031h — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 17, 2025Public hearingSenate Education Finance2:45–4:141m 29slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 15, 2025Floor debateSenate floor2:01:27–2:06:084m 41slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1878s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-1878s — adopted, roll call 15-8; Committee Amendment # 2025-1878s — adopted, voice vote
  • May 22, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-1878s and Requests CofC (Rep. Osborne) — adopted, voice vote; Speaker Appoints: Reps. Cordelli, Noble, Drye, Freeman
  • Jun 5, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamSen. Murphy Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference — adopted, voice vote; President Appoints: Senators Murphy, Ward, Altschiller; (In Recess
  • Jun 26, 2025Floor debateSenate floor2:27:49–2:31:013m 12slocated in the stream transcriptConference Committee Report Filed, # 2025-2767c; Conference Committee Report # 2025-2767c, Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2929e Adopted — voice vote
  • Jun 26, 2025Floor debateHouse floor5:55:18–5:59:334m 15slocated in the stream transcriptConference Committee Report 2025-2767c: Adopted — division 196-156; Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2929e — adopted, voice vote; Enrolled (in recess)

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 Municipal and County Government HJ 3 P. 15
  2. Jan 9, 2025HouseVacated and Referred to Education Policy and Administration (Rep. Pauer): MA VV (in recess of) 01/09/2025 HJ 3
  3. Feb 5, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/05/2025 11:15 am LOB 205-207
  4. Mar 12, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/12/2025 10:00 am LOB 205-207
  5. Mar 17, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1031h 03/17/2025 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 17 P. 52
  6. Mar 19, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  7. Mar 27, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-1031h: AA VV 03/27/2025 HJ 11 P. 12
  8. Mar 27, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-1031h: MA DV 202-166 03/27/2025 HJ 11 P. 12
  9. Mar 27, 2025SenIntroduced 03/27/2025 and Referred to Education Finance; SJ 10
  10. Apr 25, 2025Sen==CANCELLED== Hearing: 04/25/2025, Room 100, SH, 09:00 am; SC 17
  11. Apr 17, 2025SenHearing: 04/17/2025, Room 103, SH, 01:00 pm; SC 17
  12. May 15, 2025SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1878s, 05/15/2025, Vote 4-2; SC 21
  13. May 15, 2025SenCommittee Amendment # 2025-1878s, AA, VV; 05/15/2025; SJ 13
  14. May 15, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-1878s, RC 15Y-8N, MA; OT3rdg; 05/15/2025; SJ 13
  15. May 22, 2025HouseHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-1878s and Requests CofC (Rep. Osborne): MA VV 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 52
  16. May 22, 2025HouseSpeaker Appoints: Reps. Cordelli, Noble, Drye, Freeman 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 52
  17. Jun 5, 2025SenSen. Murphy Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; (In recess 06/05/2025); SJ 16
  18. Jun 5, 2025SenPresident Appoints: Senators Murphy, Ward, Altschiller; (In Recess 06/05/2025); SJ 16
  19. Jun 16, 2025HouseConference Committee Meeting: 06/16/2025 09:30 am LOB 205-207
  20. Jun 16, 2025SenConferee Change; Senator Innis Replaces Senator Altschiller; SJ 17
  21. Jun 26, 2025SenConference Committee Report Filed, # 2025-2767c; 06/26/2025
  22. Jun 25, 2025HouseRemoved from Consent (Reps. Damon, Selig, Oppel, W. Thomas, Balboni, Ames, Weinstein, Burton, Luneau, Bricchi) 06/25/2025 HJ 18 P. 18
  23. Jun 26, 2025SenConference Committee Report # 2025-2767c, Adopted, VV; 06/26/2025; SJ 17
  24. Jun 26, 2025HouseConference Committee Report 2025-2767c: Adopted, DV 196-156 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 47
  25. Jun 26, 2025SenEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2929e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/26/2025); SJ 18
  26. Jun 26, 2025HouseEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2929e: AA VV (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 62
  27. Jun 26, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/26/2025); SJ 18
  28. Jun 26, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 64
  29. Aug 1, 2025HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 08/01/2025; Chapter 281; eff. I. Sec 1 & 2 eff as provided in Sec 3 II. Rem eff 08/01/2025

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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