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HB 1452 · 2026 · House · Transportation Committee

Parent-taught driver education option

AI-generated

relative to parent-taught driver education as an alternative to traditional driver education programs.

Allows the commissioner to waive the driver education course requirement for youth operator license applicants when a parent, guardian, or other responsible adult provides equivalent instruction and training.AI-generated

Status

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

Analysis

This bill allows the commissioner to waive the driver education course requirement for youth operator license applicants if a parent, guardian, or other responsible adult provides equivalent instruction and training.

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

“The director shall issue a youth operator's license to applicants who are 16 years of age or older and under 21 years of age.”
Section 1
“The youth operator license shall expire on the 21st anniversary of the applicant's date of birth.”
Section 1
“In addition to any other requirements established by law, no such license shall be issued to applicants under 18 years of age unless the applicant meets the requirements of RSA 263:17 or furnishes written consent from the applicant's parent or legal guardian and either a certificate of successful completion of a driver education course as provided in RSA 263:19 or a waiver as provided in RSA 263:19, V.”
Section 1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Aidan AnkarbergIPrime
  • Sen. Timothy LangRMajority Whip

Also: Rep. Andrew ProutR

Public testimony

25 signed in online · 5 wrote testimony

16% support84% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Absolutely NO. I use my passport quite nicely without subordinate bureaucracy demanding identity.”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuasupports
“Professional driver education consistently leads to safer young drivers because it provides standardized, evidence-based training that parents—no matter how well-intentioned—are not equipped to replicate.…”
— Elizabeth Iacovelli, Salemopposes
“I believe teens are safer when they are trained by certified driving instructors rather than relying only on parent-led instruction.…”
— Nicolas Iacovelli, Salemopposes
“We can't even get many adult drivers to follow existing laws as it is. We don't need just anyone giving 'lessons' on driver education. No thanks!…”
— Alex Hawk, Manchesteropposes

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 20, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate11–3
    Overall
    79% yea
  • Feb 5, 2026HouseRoll callInexpedient to LegislateAdopted178–155How they voted
    Overall
    53% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    30–14917% yea
    Democrats
    148–696% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 20, 2026Public hearingHouse Transportation30:49–34:253m 36slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate — roll call; Public Hearing; Executive Session
  • Feb 5, 2026Floor debateHouse floor6:05:37–6:08:393m 2slocated in the stream transcriptInexpedient to Legislate — adopted, roll call 178-155

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 Transportation HJ 1 P. 21
  2. Jan 20, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/20/2026 10:20 am GP 234
  3. Jan 20, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 01/20/2026 10:20 am GP 234
  4. Jan 20, 2026House: Inexpedient to Legislate 01/20/2026 (Vote 11-3; RC) HC 5 P. 28
  5. Feb 5, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA RC 178-155 02/05/2026 HJ 3 P. 59

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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