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HB 1122 · 2026 · House · Education Policy and Administration Committee

Hunting education in high schools

AI-generated

requiring all high school students to learn about hunting, wildlife management, and responsible firearms usage.

Directs the state board of education and fish and game commission to develop policy guidelines requiring public high schools to teach students age 16 and older about hunting, wildlife management, and responsible firearms usage, with a religious or conscientious exemption.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · February 12, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill requires all high school students to learn about hunting, wildlife management, and responsible firearms usage.

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

“With the fish and game commission, jointly approve and distribute policy guidelines to school districts regarding courses and content standards pertaining to hunting, wildlife management, and responsible firearms usage for students of 16 years of age or older, and adopt such rules as may be necessary to carry out and supervise such courses and content standards.”
Section 2
“The school board shall ensure that courses approved by the fish and game commission designed to teach students about New Hampshire's hunting and wildlife conservation heritage and how to responsibly handle firearms are taught to students of 16 years of age or older as part of the school's curriculum.”
Section 3
“Upon a parent or legal guardian’s written determination of religious or conscientious objection, alternative instruction in forestry management or participation in community service shall be sufficient to meet this requirement.”
Section 5
“Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, one percent of the proceeds deposited into the education trust fund shall be appropriated to, and used exclusively for, fish and game clubs, conservation associations, or other qualified organizations in this state that provide hunter education courses.”
Section 8

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Donald McFarlaneRPrime
  • Rep. James SpillaneRChair· Fish and Game and Marine Resources
  • Rep. Robert WherryRChair· Special Committee on COVID Response Efficacy
  • Rep. Sayra DeVitoRClerk· Fish and Game and Marine Resources

Also: Rep. Matt Sabourin dit ChoinièreR, Rep. Daniel Popovici-MullerR

Public testimony

280 signed in online · 63 wrote testimony

4% support95% oppose1% neutral

ForPreserves hunting and conservation traditions

AgainstUnfunded mandate on already-strained school budgets

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I support this bill strongly! EFA's are out of control! Public funds are mostly being used for private education for students who never attended public schools. Funds are used for recreational purposes, and there is no accountability for their learning.…”
— Rose LaRochelle-Colby, Hampsteadsupports
“Educating our youth about conservation management and the traditions of hunting and fishing is vital to our state to continue these traditions and management of our wildlife and wild places.”
— Shane Keyes, Miltonsupports
“I love that the kids can get an education on what hunting is, the history of it, and safe practices! And that parents can opt out if they feel they must”
— Megan Schmitt, CONCORDsupports
“The bill provides no additional funding or support from the state to ensure safety. At a time when some school districts are having to cut important core programing because of a lack of funding from the state, we should not adopt another unfunded mandate for our schools.”
— Kim Paynter, Eppingopposes
“Again - are we really looking to add something to our curriculums that have zero additional funding or support from the state to ensure safety.…”
— Sierra Dolce, Sandownopposes
“HB 1122 mandates all high school students in NH learn about hunting, wildlife management, and responsible firearms usage and require the State Board of Education, in collaboration with the Fish and Game Commission, to develop and distribute policy guidelines for school districts regarding these educational courses for students aged 16 and older.…”
— Lynn McRae, Lymeopposes

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 29, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate16–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Feb 12, 2026HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 21, 2026Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration4:33:02–4:50:1317m 11slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing; Executive Session
  • Feb 12, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamInexpedient to Legislate — adopted, voice vote

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Education Policy and Administration HJ 1 P. 7
  2. Jan 21, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/21/2026 01:30 pm GP 232
  3. Jan 21, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 01/21/2026 01:30 pm GP 232
  4. Jan 29, 2026House: Inexpedient to Legislate 01/29/2026 (Vote 16-0; CC) HC 6 P. 3
  5. Feb 12, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 02/12/2026 HJ 4 P. 2

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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