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SB 491 · 2026 · Senate · Education Finance Committee

Education freedom account career funding

AI-generated

(New Title) enabling students to utilize education freedom account funds to pay for certain career and technical education funding and removing references to "curriculum frameworks" as they relate to the substantive educational content of an adequate education.

Enables students to use education freedom account funds to pay for career and technical education and removes references to curriculum frameworks in defining the substantive content of an adequate education.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · July 9, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✓House
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill enables students to utilize education freedom account funds to pay for certain career and technical education funding.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. David WattersDPrime
  • Sen. Timothy LangRMajority Whip
  • Sen. Victoria SullivanRVice Chair· Education
  • Sen. Kevin AvardRDeputy Majority Whip
  • Sen. Mark McConkeyRChair· Capital Budget
  • Sen. Howard PearlRChair· Executive Departments and Administration

Also: Sen. Tim McGoughR, Sen. Pat LongD

Public testimony

44 signed in online · 8 wrote testimony

20% support80% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“My name is Piotr Kukula, and I am a sophomore currently residing in Bedford, New Hampshire.…”
— Piotr Kukula, Bedfordsupports
“I support this bill because students should be afforded every possible option for education, and we are desperately in need of trained workers in the trades.…”
— Timothy Lenihan, Enfieldsupports
“This bill takes away funding from schools that already struggle to meet standards. We should be INVESTING into our schools, not moving the money to already affluent towns and letting the struggling schools fail.…”
— james sullivan, bedfordopposes
“I oppose this bill becase it would require a public school district to fund costs associated with non-public school EFA students, thereby reducing the amount of money available for public school students.”
— Shirley Montgomery, Hanoveropposes
“public school districts would have to fund costs associated with non-public school EFA students, thereby reducing the amount of money available for public school students. I OBJECT”
— Sharon Racusin, Hanoveropposes

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

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings

  • 2026-01-2210:00 amSenate Education FinanceSH 103Public hearing
  • 2026-03-3110:00 amHouse Education FundingGP 232Public hearing
  • 2026-04-071:30 pmHouse Education FundingGP 232Public hearing
  • 2026-04-2810:00 amHouse Education FundingGP 232Public hearingrescheduled
  • 2026-04-2810:30 amHouse Education FundingGP 232Public hearingcancelled
  • 2026-04-2811:15 amHouse Education FundingGP 232Public hearing

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026SenIntroduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Education Finance; SJ 1
  2. Jan 22, 2026SenHearing: 01/22/2026, Room 103, SH, 10:20 am; SC 47A
  3. Feb 5, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0379s, 02/05/2026, Vote 5-1; SC 4
  4. Feb 5, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-0379s, AA, VV; 02/05/2026; SJ 3
  5. Feb 5, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-0379s, MA, VV; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 02/05/2026; SJ 3
  6. Mar 12, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass, 03/12/2026; Vote 6-0; CC; SC 9
  7. Mar 12, 2026SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/12/2026; SJ 6
  8. Mar 12, 2026HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/12/2026 and referred to Education Funding HJ 8 P. 114
  9. Mar 31, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 03/31/2026 10:00 am GP 232
  10. Apr 7, 2026HouseFull Committee Work Session: 04/07/2026 01:30 pm GP 232
  11. Apr 28, 2026HousePublic Hearing on non-germane Amendment # 2026-1441h: 04/28/2026 10:00 am GP 232
  12. Apr 28, 2026House==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 04/28/2026 10:30 am GP 232
  13. Apr 28, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 04/28/2026 11:15 am GP 232
  14. Apr 28, 2026House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1707h (NT) 04/28/2026 (Vote 17-0; CC) HC 18 P. 6
  15. May 7, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-1707h: AA VV 05/07/2026 HJ 12 P. 5
  16. May 7, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1707h: MA VV 05/07/2026 HJ 12 P. 5
  17. May 14, 2026SenSen. Murphy Moved to Concur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
  18. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  19. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  20. Jul 2, 2026SenSigned by the Governor on 07/02/2026; Chapter 256; Effective 07/01/2027

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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