Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
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SB 296 · 2025 · Senate · Education Finance Committee

Nonpublic school scholarship eligibility

AI-generated

increasing the percentage of nonpublic school scholarships awarded to students who qualify for the federal free and reduced-price meal program.

Increases the percentage of nonpublic school scholarships awarded to students who qualify for the federal free and reduced-price meal program and removes income requirements after the first year.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the Senate — Inexpedient to Legislate · November 3, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕Senate
  3. House
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill increases the percentage of nonpublic school scholarships awarded to students who qualify for the federal free and reduced-price meal program. The bill also removes income qualification requirements for scholarship recipients after the initial year of qualification.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“At least 50 [40] percent of the scholarships awarded by the scholarship organization to eligible students as defined in RSA 77-G:1, VIII(a)(1) and (2) shall be awarded to students who qualified for the federal free and reduced-price meal program [in the prior year].”
Section 2
“No income threshold needs to be met in subsequent years, provided a student otherwise qualifies for a scholarship [A student shall reapply each year for a scholarship].”
Section 2

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. David RochefortRPrimeChair· Health and Human Services
  • Sen. Victoria SullivanRVice Chair· Education
  • Rep. Katy PeternelRVice Chair· Education Policy and Administration
  • Rep. Kristin NobleRChair· Education Policy and Administration

Also: Rep. Kelley PotenzaR

Public testimony

No one submitted online testimony on this bill. See the record

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Mar 13, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0794s5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 13, 2025SenateVoice voteSen. Ward Moved Laid on Tableadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Mar 13, 2025Floor debateSenate floor3:22:13–3:23:201m 7slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0794s; Pending Motion Committee Amendment # 2025-0794s; SB 296 was Removed from the Consent Calendar

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 30, 2025SenIntroduced 01/30/2025 and Referred to Education Finance; SJ 4
  2. Feb 19, 2025SenHearing: 02/19/2025, Room 103, SH, 01:20 pm; SC 10
  3. Mar 13, 2025SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0794s, 03/13/2025; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 12
  4. Mar 13, 2025SenSB 296 was Removed from the Consent Calendar; 03/13/2025; SJ 7
  5. Mar 13, 2025SenSen. Ward Moved Laid on Table, MA, VV; 03/13/2025; SJ 7
  6. Mar 13, 2025SenPending Motion Committee Amendment # 2025-0794s; 03/13/2025; SJ 7
  7. Oct 31, 2025SenInexpedient to Legislate, Senate Rule 3-23, 10/31/2025; SJ 1

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Background reading

Evergreen reading on the policy area — spanning perspectives — not coverage of this specific bill.

  • Summer EBTPrimary source

    USDA Food and Nutrition Service — The federal program, including the streamlined-certification provision the data sharing rests on.AI-generated

  • Summer nutrition programsAdvocacy

    Food Research & Action Center — Participation gaps and why automatic enrollment matters to reach.AI-generated

  • National School Lunch ProgramPrimary source

    USDA Food and Nutrition Service — The free and reduced-price eligibility determination that Summer EBT enrollment now piggybacks on.AI-generated

Documents (PDF)

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