Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
← All bills

HB 1820 · 2026 · House · Education Policy and Administration Committee

State-run education freedom account program

AI-generated

requiring the department of education to administer the education freedom account program.

Transfers administration of the education freedom account program under RSA 194-F from scholarship organizations to the department of education.AI-generated

Status

Died on the table in the House · March 5, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill changes the administration of the education freedom account program under RSA 194-F from scholarship organizations to the department of education.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. David LuneauDPrimeDemocratic Advisor
  • Rep. Hope DamonDDeputy Ranking Member· Education Funding
  • Rep. Patricia CornellDRanking Member· Education Policy

Also: Rep. Sallie FellowsD, Rep. Tracy BricchiD, Sen. Debra AltschillerD, Sen. Donovan FentonD

Public testimony

128 signed in online · 35 wrote testimony

91% support9% oppose1% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“The Members of the NH Council on Developmental Disabilities believe this will could have a positive effect on the NH disability community.”
— Chase Eagleson, Concord · Members of the NH Council on Developmental Disabilitiessupports
“Yes!!! We will save SO much money and the program will be SO much more transparent if the Dept of Ed oversees the EFA program instead of paying a private company to do so. YES to the Dept of Ed overseeing this program!!!!”
— Marlise Bryant, Hollissupports
“Shifting the EFA program to be run by the Dept of Ed instead of outside scholarship groups would increase transparency and oversight for taxpayers.”
— Nicole Bump, Goffstownsupports
“I oppose this bill outright because it is nothing but a slick backdoor maneuver to dismantle the EFA program. The DOE should be abolished not in charge of New Hampshire children's tuition.”
— Alexander Lemp, Newportopposes
“The DOE is not competent enough to handle this responsibility.”
— Jasmine Davidson, Concordopposes
“Testimony Against HB 1820: Overreach and Mismanagement I strongly oppose HB 1820, which aims to mandate the Department of Education (DOE) to administer the Education Freedom Account (EFA) program without providing necessary funding or staffing.…”
— Georgina Lambert, Belmontopposes
“This rather feels like mandating GM dealers sell Toyota's because they are better cars. Insisting that AT&T say nice things about MCI won't make it so. I suggest that making competition and choice legal and common in the culture will solve this problem.…”
— tom luther, claremontneutral

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

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings

  • 2026-01-1410:00 amHouse Education Policy and AdministrationGP 232Public hearing
  • 2026-01-2210:00 amHouse Education Policy and AdministrationGP 232Public hearingrescheduled

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Education Policy and Administration HJ 1 P. 37
  2. Jan 14, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/14/2026 01:00 pm GP 232
  3. Jan 22, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 01/22/2026 10:00 am GP 232
  4. Jan 29, 2026HouseMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 01/29/2026 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 9 P. 38
  5. Feb 6, 2026HouseMinority Committee Report: Ought to Pass
  6. Mar 5, 2026HouseLay HB1820 on Table (Rep. Noble): MA RC 179-157 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 105

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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