Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
← All bills

HB 1386 · 2026 · House · Municipal and County Government Committee

School district financial audit petitions

AI-generated

enabling citizens in a municipality to vote to require that a financial audit of the local school district take place.

Allows residents domiciled in a school district to petition the local school board to require a financial audit of the school district.AI-generated

Status

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

Analysis

This bill empowers persons domiciled in school district to present their local school boards with a qualifying petition that would require the school board to conduct a financial audit of the local school district.

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

“Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, persons domiciled in local school districts shall be empowered to present a qualifying petition to their local school board to conduct a forensic audit of their local school district upon a deficit in their local school district's budget.”
RSA 32:5-i
“A qualifying petition shall contain the names, addresses, and signatures of one percent of the registered voters within a local school district.”
RSA 32:5-i
“A qualifying petition request may be presented to the school board of the local school district.”
RSA 32:5-i
“The school board shall be required to hold a vote to require that such audit take place upon being presented with a qualifying petition.”
RSA 32:5-i

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Louise AndrusRPrime
  • Sen. Howard PearlRChair· Executive Departments and Administration

Also: Rep. Jose CambrilsR, Rep. Barbara ComtoisR, Rep. Kristine PerezR, Rep. Alvin SeeR, Rep. Richard TrippR, Rep. Len TurcotteR, Rep. Clayton WoodR

Public testimony

37 signed in online · 3 wrote testimony

19% support81% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“First, let the market decide where housing is built. This is not a planned economy. Second, if implemented anyway, this should not be a tax on the rich second-home owner. We will drive those folks from the state.…”
— Mark Reschke, Moultonboroughsupports
“This bill proposes to punish DEFICITS. Therefore, school budgets will go UP, to make sure a deficit NEVER happens again. In Claremont, there is nothing to audit. The books are being reconstituted as I write.…”
— tom luther, claremontopposes

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
  • Feb 17, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate17–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 5, 2026HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 10, 2026Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government51:57–53:051m 8slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 17, 2026Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government39:12–45:316m 19slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Executive Session
  • Mar 5, 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 Municipal and County Government HJ 1 P. 18
  2. Feb 10, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/10/2026 09:25 am GP 154
  3. Feb 17, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/17/2026 09:00 am GP 154
  4. Feb 17, 2026House: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/17/2026 (Vote 17-0; CC) HC 9 P. 23
  5. Mar 5, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 29

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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