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HB 1374 · 2026 · House · Education Policy and Administration Committee

Cooperative school district withdrawal rules

AI-generated

(New Title) modifying the procedures for withdrawal from a cooperative school district and the discontinuance of elementary and high schools and requiring the review of school district operating documents by school boards.

Modifies the procedure for withdrawal from a cooperative school district, changes voting requirements for closing schools, and requires school boards to review district operating documents.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · July 16, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill: I. Modifies the procedure for withdrawal from a cooperative school district to allow a majority of voters in a single withdrawing district to elect to withdraw. II. Clarifies that a supermajority of voters in a withdrawing district voting in favor of withdrawal shall constitute conclusive evidence of the withdrawal of the district. III. Requires that voters residing in all municipalities that are served by a school district vote on the closure of schools. IV. Establishes an option for the governing bodies of municipalities to preserve the operation of a school located within the municipality where the majority of voters residing in all municipalities served by the district elected to close such school. V. Requires the governing bodies of municipalities to enter into an operating agreement with the district where such option to preserve the operation of a school has been exercised. VI. Authorizes the state board of education to conduct hearings and issue final decisions relative to whether a school shall be closed or its operation shall be continued in circumstances where an operating agreement has not been entered into. VII. Requires school administrative units and cooperative school districts to comply with the provisions of the act. VIII. Requires every 3 years school boards of single district school districts, cooperative school districts, and school administrative units review operating documents for each district and provide findings and recommendations resulting from such review.

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

“If the state board approves the plan for withdrawal, the board shall cause the withdrawal plan to be published once in some newspaper generally circulated within the cooperative school district.”
RSA 195:29
“No elementary school, as defined in RSA 189:25, or high school, as defined in RSA 194:23, shall be discontinued, or the location thereof be changed, except by a majority vote of voters residing in all municipalities that are served by the school or district.”
RSA 194:3-f
“If a majority of voters residing in all municipalities that are served by a school or district vote in the affirmative for the discontinuance of such elementary or high school pursuant to RSA 194:3-f, the municipality in which the elementary or high school is located shall be permitted to continue the operation of the school in accordance with this section.”
RSA 194:3-g
“All school administrative units shall comply with the requirements of RSA 194:3-f and RSA 194:3-g relative to the closure of elementary and high schools.”
RSA 194-C:3-a

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Mary MurphyRPrime
  • Rep. Dan McGuireRVice Chair· Finance
  • Rep. Pam BrownRClerk· Education Funding
  • Sen. Ruth WardRChair· Education

Also: Rep. Riché ColcombeR, Rep. Mary FordR, Rep. Raymond PeeplesR, Rep. Susan PorcelliR

Public testimony

64 signed in online · 7 wrote testimony

6% support94% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“The bill I am referring to is hr 34 . By labeling Sharia as a threat there is misconceptions and prejudice. Respectfully I have never met one Muslim who believes they should not follow the law of the land. This is part of the teachings.…”
— Jennifer Crescenzo, Barringtonopposes
“It’s a very serious step to allow a Town to too easily break away from their Cooperative. There needs to be intense investigation and discussion of the ramifications so that all members involved can make an informed decision”
— Barbara Cavanaugh, Deeringopposes
“My children go to school in Derry, and I do want the whole town to decide what my children do or don’t do in school. As a resident please oppose this. This is in acceptable.”
— Megan Jackson, Derryopposes

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
  • Mar 2, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass10–8
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseDivisionOught to PassAdopted179–149
    Overall
    55% yea
  • May 7, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1731s3–2
    Overall
    60% yea
  • May 7, 2026SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2026-1731sadopted
  • May 7, 2026SenateRoll callOught to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1731sAdopted14–8How they voted
    Overall
    64% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    14–0100% yea
    Democrats
    0–80% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • May 14, 2026HouseVoice voteHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1731s and Requests CofC (Rep. Noble)adopted
    Resulting text: Bill as adopted by both chambers
  • May 14, 2026SenateVoice voteSen. Ward Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conferenceadopted
  • Jun 4, 2026SenateVoice voteConference committee report 2026-2076cadopted
  • Jun 4, 2026HouseRoll callConference committee report 2026-2076cAdopted179–161How they voted
    Overall
    53% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    179–597% yea
    Democrats
    0–1560% yea
  • Jun 4, 2026SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 9, 2026Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration33:44–42:188m 34slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 2, 2026Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration3:03:28–3:05:472m 19slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 11, 2026Floor debateHouse floor5:35:35–5:38:332m 58slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass — adopted, division 179-149
  • Apr 21, 2026Public hearingSenate Education41:05–47:336m 28slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 7, 2026Floor debateSenate floor1:43:31–1:46:533m 22slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1731s; Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1731s — adopted, roll call 14-8; Committee Amendment # 2026-1731s — adopted, voice vote
  • May 14, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamSen. Ward Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference — adopted, voice vote; President Appoints: Senators Innis, Sullivan, Prentiss; (In Recess
  • May 14, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1731s and Requests CofC (Rep. Noble) — adopted, voice vote; Speaker Appoints: Reps. Noble, Peternel, D. McGuire, Mary Murphy
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateSenate floor3:15:21–3:16:1857slocated in the stream transcriptConference Committee Report Filed, # 2026-2076c; Conference Committee Report # 2026-2076c, Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled Adopted — voice vote
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateHouse floor4:29:50–4:32:292m 39slocated in the stream transcriptConference Committee Report 2026-2076c: Adopted — roll call 179-161; Enrolled (in recess)

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. 17
  2. Feb 9, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/09/2026 10:30 am GP 232
  3. Mar 2, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 03/02/2026 09:30 am GP 232
  4. Mar 2, 2026HouseMajority : Ought to Pass 03/02/2026 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 10 P. 37
  5. Mar 4, 2026HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Mar 11, 2026HouseOught to Pass: MA DV 179-149 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 134
  7. Mar 12, 2026SenIntroduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Education; SJ 7
  8. Apr 21, 2026SenHearing: 04/21/2026, Room Map Room, SL, 09:25 am; SC 15
  9. May 7, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1731s, 05/07/2026, Vote 3-2; SC 17
  10. May 7, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1731s, AA, VV; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
  11. May 7, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1731s, RC 14Y-8N, MA; OT3rdg; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
  12. May 14, 2026HouseHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1731s and Requests CofC (Rep. Noble): MA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 149
  13. May 14, 2026HouseSpeaker Appoints: Reps. Noble, Peternel, D. McGuire, Mary Murphy 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 149
  14. May 14, 2026SenSen. Ward Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; (In recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
  15. May 14, 2026SenPresident Appoints: Senators Innis, Sullivan, Prentiss; (In Recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
  16. May 26, 2026HouseConference Committee Meeting: 05/26/2026 09:30 am GP 230
  17. May 26, 2026HouseConference Committee Meeting: 05/26/2026 09:00 am GP 230
  18. May 26, 2026SenConferee Change; Senator Birdsell Replaces Senator Prentiss; SJ 14
  19. Jun 4, 2026SenConference Committee Report Filed, # 2026-2076c; 06/04/2026
  20. Jun 4, 2026SenConference Committee Report # 2026-2076c, Adopted, VV; 06/04/2026; SJ 14
  21. Jun 4, 2026HouseConference Committee Report 2026-2076c: Adopted, RC 179-161 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  22. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 15
  23. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026
  24. Jul 10, 2026HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 07/10/2026; Chapter 303; eff. 10/8/2026

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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