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HB 1563 · 2026 · House · Education Funding Committee

Special education aid formula changes

AI-generated

(New Title) relative to the special education aid formula and the administration and monitoring of state special education aid.

Establishes a threshold-based formula for distributing state special education aid to school districts for high-cost pupils, revises cost calculation considerations, and requires districts to submit certified reports to receive reimbursement.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · July 10, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill: I. Requires the department of education to distribute aid to school districts for pupils whose special education costs exceed a certain dollar value, but only up to a certain threshold. II. Creates considerations for calculating costs associated with a special education student's education. III. Requires each school district seeking special education aid reimbursements to submit a certified report for each student for whom reimbursement is requested.

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

“Each school district seeking reimbursement under this chapter shall submit to the department, by a date established by the department, a certified report for each student for whom reimbursement is requested.”
RSA 186-C:18-a
“The department shall determine and issue state special education aid payments based on the certified reports submitted by school districts.”
RSA 186-C:18-a
“The department shall establish a risk-based monitoring program to verify the accuracy and allowability of reimbursement claims.”
RSA 186-C:18-a
“If systemic errors are identified, the department may take additional measures, including:”
RSA 186-C:18-a

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Rick LaddRPrimeChair· Education Funding
  • Rep. Dan McGuireRVice Chair· Finance
  • Rep. Steven SmithRVice Chair· Rules
  • Sen. Victoria SullivanRVice Chair· Education
  • Sen. Keith MurphyRChair· Education Finance
  • Sen. Daniel InnisRVice Chair· Finance

Also: Rep. Keith ErfR, Rep. Raymond PeeplesR, Rep. Daniel Popovici-MullerR

Public testimony

34 signed in online · 12 wrote testimony

18% support79% oppose3% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Local tax payers are already struggling to fund schools and slowly losing service for children because the burden is too high. The state needs to step up and provide more support to the future of our state.”
— Rebecca Dalrymple, Merrimacksupports
“I oppose HB1563 because I believe this legislation will further downshift the state’s responsibility to localities, further burdening real estate property taxpayers.”
— Mary Hakken-Phillips, Hanoveropposes
“I oppose HB 1563 because it shifts the financial burden of special education from the state to local school districts and property taxpayers, while districts remain legally required to provide all mandated services.…”
— Ashley dePreaux, Merrimackopposes
“This is an absolutely disgraceful bill, trying to steal tue futures of our most vulnerable children. Shameful, despicable legislation. I will be making public the names of legislators who vote for this. It's important that people know”
— Robert Reisman, Merrimackopposes
“Please DO NOT reduce funding for special education.. These students need our help more than ever. They are perfectly capable of becoming productive citizens. I was a special ed teacher for 5 years. IDEA is an unfunded federal mandate leaving the states to foot the bill.…”
— James Chapman, Gilsumneutral

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 10, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0546h18–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Feb 19, 2026HouseVoice voteAmendment 2026-0546hadopted
  • Feb 19, 2026HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0546hadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • Mar 17, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1086h (NT)25–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 26, 2026HouseVoice voteAmendment 2026-1086hadopted
  • Mar 26, 2026HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1086hadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • Apr 23, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass4–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Apr 23, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • May 14, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass7–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 14, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • Jun 4, 2026SenateVoice voteEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2140eadopted
  • Jun 4, 2026SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 15, 2026Public hearingHouse Education Funding4:13:50–4:33:0019m 10slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Jan 28, 2026Public hearingHouse Education Funding37:42–40:052m 23slocated in the stream transcriptFull Committee Work Session
  • Feb 19, 2026Floor debateHouse floor43:20–44:1050slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0546h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2026-0546h — adopted, voice vote; Referred to Finance
  • Mar 9, 2026Public hearingHouse Finance - Division II1:39:41–1:43:353m 54slocated in the stream transcriptDivision II Work Session
  • Mar 17, 2026Public hearingHouse Finance48:38–55:296m 51slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1086h (NT) — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 26, 2026Floor debateHouse floor1:37:52–1:39:011m 9slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1086h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2026-1086h (NT) — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 13, 2026Public hearingSenate Education Finance3:09–20:0716m 58slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Apr 23, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • May 14, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2140e Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled Adopted — voice vote
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2140e — adopted, voice vote; 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 Funding HJ 1 P. 26
  2. Jan 15, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/15/2026 01:00 pm GP 232
  3. Jan 28, 2026HouseFull Committee Work Session: 01/28/2026 10:00 am GP 234
  4. Feb 10, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/10/2026 10:00 am GP 234
  5. Feb 10, 2026House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0546h 02/10/2026 (Vote 18-0; RC) HC 7 P. 26
  6. Feb 19, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0546h: AA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 42
  7. Feb 19, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0546h: MA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 43
  8. Feb 19, 2026HouseReferred to Finance 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 43
  9. Mar 9, 2026HouseDivision II Work Session: 03/09/2026 10:00 am GP 234
  10. Mar 17, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 03/17/2026 10:00 am GP 230
  11. Mar 17, 2026House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1086h (NT) 03/17/2026 (Vote 25-0; RC)
  12. Mar 26, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-1086h (NT): AA VV 03/26/2026 HJ 9 P. 21
  13. Mar 26, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1086h: MA VV 03/26/2026 HJ 9 P. 23
  14. Mar 26, 2026SenIntroduced 03/26/2026 and Referred to Education Finance; SJ 7
  15. Apr 13, 2026SenHearing: 04/13/2026, Room 100, SH, 09:00 am; SC 14
  16. Apr 23, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass, 04/23/2026; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 15
  17. Apr 23, 2026SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 04/23/2026; SJ 10
  18. May 14, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass, 05/14/2026; Vote 7-0; CC; SC 18
  19. May 14, 2026SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
  20. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2140e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  21. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2140e: AA VV (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  22. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  23. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  24. Jul 2, 2026HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 07/02/2026; Chapter 232; eff. 7/1/2028

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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