Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
← All bills

HB 1125 · 2026 · House · Election Law Committee

Partisan school board elections

AI-generated

enabling school districts to adopt partisan school district elections.

Allows individual school districts to vote to adopt a partisan ballot system for electing school district officers, including additional procedures for cooperative school districts.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the Senate — Inexpedient to Legislate · April 10, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill enables school districts to choose whether or not to adopt partisan school district elections.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Robert WherryRPrimeChair· Special Committee on COVID Response Efficacy
  • Rep. James CreightonRChair· Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services
  • Rep. Lisa FreemanRAssistant Majority Whip
  • Rep. Juliet Harvey-BoliaRDeputy Majority Floor Leader
  • Rep. Diane PauerRChair· Municipal and County Government
  • Sen. Keith MurphyRDeputy President Pro Tempore

Also: Rep. Deborah AylwardR, Rep. Sandra PanekR, Sen. Tim McGoughR

Public testimony

238 signed in online · 54 wrote testimony

3% support97% oppose0% neutral

AgainstSchool elections should remain nonpartisan

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“NHSBA is opposed to this bill. Given the number of hearings and executive sessions scheduled at this time, we will be submitting further testimony after the hearing, as appropriate. Thank you.”
— Rebecca Wilson, Concord · New Hampshire School Boards Associationopposes
“Public education benefits all of society, producing citizens ready to contribute to the greater good. Partisan politics has no place in public education.…”
— Karin Cevasco, Milfordopposes
“I believe HB1125 should be voted down, because school board elections should be always be non-partisan.”
— Michael Whitman, Lymeopposes

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

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings

  • 2026-02-1710:00 amHouse Election LawGP 158Public hearing
  • 2026-03-319:00 amSenate Election Law and Municipal AffairsSH 122-123Public hearing

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Election Law HJ 1 P. 7
  2. Feb 17, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/17/2026 10:20 am GP 158
  3. Feb 17, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/17/2026 01:40 pm GP 158
  4. Feb 17, 2026HouseMajority : Ought to Pass 02/17/2026 (Vote 8-7; RC) HC 10 P. 41
  5. Mar 4, 2026HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Mar 11, 2026HouseOught to Pass: MA DV 168-156 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 144
  7. Mar 12, 2026SenIntroduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 7
  8. Mar 31, 2026SenHearing: 03/31/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 11:00 am; SC 12
  9. Apr 16, 2026Sen: Inexpedient to Legislate, 04/16/2026, Vote 4-0, CC; SC 14
  10. Apr 16, 2026SenInexpedient to Legislate, MA, VV === BILL KILLED ===; 04/16/2026; SJ 9

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

  • Introducedversion

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