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HB 68 · 2026 · House · Education Policy and Administration Committee

Mandatory same-district school placement

AI-generated

making best interest placements within the same school district mandatory in the absence of a valid reason to deny the placement.

Requires superintendents to approve student requests for reassignment within the same school district absent a valid reason to deny the placement, and requires superintendents to provide parents written reasons for denials.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the Senate — Inexpedient to Legislate · January 7, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill requires superintendents to approve student requests for reassignment within the same school district, and requires superintendents to provide written reasons to parents for denials of requests.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as amended by the House. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“Prior to or at such meeting, the parent or guardian shall make a specific request that the student be re-assigned by the school board to another public school, public academy, or an approved private school within the district or to a public school, public academy, or an approved private school in another district.”
Section 1
“If the superintendent does not find that it is in the best interest of the student to change the student's school or assignment, the parent or guardian may request a hearing with the school board of residence to determine if the student is experiencing a manifest educational hardship under paragraph II.”
Section 2
“If the superintendent fails to meet any requirements under this section, the request shall be approved.”
Section 3
“If such request is made to re-assign the student to another public school or public academy within the school district, the superintendent shall approve the request unless it fails to meet the requirements under this section.”
Section 1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Erica LayonRPrimeChair· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Rep. Dan McGuireRVice Chair· Finance
  • Rep. Douglas ThomasRVice Chair· Science, Technology and Energy
  • Rep. Judy AronRChair· Environment and Agriculture
  • Sen. Keith MurphyRChair· Education Finance
  • Sen. Ruth WardRChair· Education
  • Sen. Victoria SullivanRVice Chair· Education

Also: Rep. Glenn CordelliR, Rep. James ThibaultR

Public testimony

No one submitted online testimony on this bill. See the record

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Feb 3, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0103h10–8
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Mar 20, 2025HouseDivisionAmendment 2025-0103hAdopted201–160
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Mar 20, 2025HouseRoll callOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0103hAdopted217–156How they voted
    Overall
    58% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    208–0100% yea
    Democrats
    9–1565% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 1, 2025SenateCommittee report: Rereferred to Committee5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 1, 2025SenateVoice voteRereferred to Committeeadopted
  • Jan 7, 2026SenateCommittee reportCommittee report: Inexpedient to Legislate5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Jan 7, 2026SenateVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 27, 2025Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration3:51:50–3:53:001m 10slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 3, 2025Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration4:27:14–4:28:431m 29slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0103h — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 20, 2025Floor debateHouse floor1:55:29–2:06:5311m 24slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0103h — adopted, roll call 217-156; Amendment # 2025-0103h — adopted, division 201-160
  • Apr 15, 2025Public hearingSenate Education1:35:15–1:36:231m 8slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 1, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Rereferred to Committee; Rereferred to Committee — adopted, voice vote
  • Jan 7, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Vote 5-0; CC; Inexpedient to Legislate — adopted, voice vote

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 8, 2025HouseIntroduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Education Policy and Administration HJ 2 P. 4
  2. Jan 27, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/27/2025 01:00 pm LOB 205-207
  3. Feb 3, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 02/03/2025 01:00 pm LOB 205-207
  4. Feb 3, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0103h 02/03/2025 (Vote 10-8; RC)
  5. Feb 6, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Mar 20, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0103h: AA DV 201-160 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 36
  7. Mar 20, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0103h: MA RC 217-156 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 36
  8. Mar 20, 2025SenIntroduced 03/20/2025 and Referred to Education; SJ 9
  9. Apr 15, 2025SenHearing: 04/15/2025, Room 101, LOB, 09:15 am; SC 17
  10. May 1, 2025Sen: Rereferred to Committee, 05/01/2025; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 19
  11. May 1, 2025SenRereferred to Committee, MA, VV; 05/01/2025; SJ 11
  12. Jan 7, 2026Sen: Inexpedient to Legislate; Vote 5-0; CC; 01/07/2026; SC 46
  13. Jan 7, 2026SenInexpedient to Legislate, MA, VV === BILL KILLED ===; 01/07/2026; SJ 1

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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