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HB 1288 · 2026 · House · Education Funding Committee

School district budget caps

AI-generated

relative to enabling school administrative units to adopt budget caps.

Enables school administrative units to adopt budget caps that limit the annual growth of school district appropriations.AI-generated

Status

Referred to interim study (House) · March 12, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill enables school administrative units to adopt budget caps.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Michael VoseRPrimeChair· Science, Technology and Energy
  • Rep. Liz BarbourRVice Chair· Environment and Agriculture
  • Rep. Margaret DryeRClerk· Education Policy and Administration
  • Rep. Gregory HillRChair· Legislative Administration
  • Rep. Diane PauerRChair· Municipal and County Government
  • Sen. Timothy LangRMajority Whip
  • Sen. Victoria SullivanRVice Chair· Education

Public testimony

139 signed in online · 19 wrote testimony

9% support91% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Any legislation to slow school funding increases must be supported. I do believe that the State of NH must take a more active role in regulating SAU's.”
— Jay Schechter, Dublinsupports
“Taxpayers aren’t a blank check. Schools administrators must be made to work within their budgets.”
— INES MONTALVO, Gorhamsupports
“NH schools don’t need yet more voucher expansion programs in our state. Further, the federal government's "scholarship organization" NH contracted with has little to no accountability due to our state nor to NH taxpayers.…”
— Bridget Powers, Plymouthopposes
“Communities and SAUs need budgeting flexibility, especially in these volatile economic times.”
— Gregory Davis, Salemopposes
“I oppose any sort of "budget cap" legislation from the state legislative body. This is and should remain a LOCAL issue!”
— Sally Patton, NEW LONDONopposes

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

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings

  • 2026-01-2910:00 amHouse Education FundingGP 232Public hearingrescheduled
  • 2026-02-1710:00 amHouse Education FundingGP 232Public hearing
  • 2026-03-031:00 pmHouse Education FundingGP 232Public hearing

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Education Funding HJ 1 P. 14
  2. Jan 29, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/29/2026 10:45 am GP 232
  3. Feb 17, 2026House==RECESSED== Executive Session: 02/17/2026 10:00 am GP 232
  4. Mar 3, 2026House==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 03/03/2026 01:00 pm GP 232
  5. Mar 2, 2026House: Refer for Interim Study 03/02/2026 (Vote 18-0; CC) HC 10 P. 12
  6. Mar 9, 2026HouseRemoved from Consent (Reps. Sellers, DeRoy, McFarlane, Nalevanko, Popovici-Muller, Vose, Bailey, Wherry, Pauer, D. McGuire) 03/09/2026 HJ 7 P. 1
  7. Mar 12, 2026HouseSpecial Order to next order of business (Rep. Osborne): MA VV 03/12/2026 HJ 8 P. 84
  8. Mar 12, 2026HouseRefer for Interim Study: MA DV 175-164 03/12/2026 HJ 8 P. 85

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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