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SB 580 · 2026 · Senate · Education Committee

School cooperative purchasing program

AI-generated

(New Title) relative to establishing a school cooperative purchasing program.

Establishes a school cooperative purchasing program allowing multiple school districts or administrative units to jointly procure specific goods and services, authorizes the state board of education to place schools or units into limited receivership, and requires school boards to adopt related policies.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · April 23, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✕House
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill: I. Establishes a school cooperative purchasing program to allow multiple school districts or school administrative units (SAUs) the ability to enter into joint agreements for the procurement of specific goods and services in schools. II. Authorizes the state board of education to place schools and SAUs into a receivership in limited circumstances. III. Requires school boards and the board of trustees of chartered public schools to adopt policies relative to their schools.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“The director of procurement and support services, in consultation with the department of education, shall establish and administer a cooperative purchasing program for the benefit of school districts, school administrative units (SAUs), and chartered public schools.”
RSA 21-I:17-e
“In order to combine purchasing power and achieve cost savings or administrative efficiencies in the acquisition of products or services used by the participating schools, two or more school districts may enter into an agreement to jointly procure specific goods or services for their schools.”
RSA 194:3-f
“The state board of education may place into a receivership any school or school administrative unit (SAU) for the purposes of intervening in the development or monitoring of:”
RSA 186:8-a
“Under this program, the division shall periodically solicit competitive bids or proposals for goods and services that represent major expenses for K–12 education, including but not limited to student transportation services, school food service management or food supplies, curriculum materials and textbooks, heating fuel, and other high-cost items commonly purchased by school districts.”
RSA 21-I:17-e

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Victoria SullivanRPrimeVice Chair· Education
  • Sen. Howard PearlRChair· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Rep. Erica LayonRChair· Executive Departments and Administration

Also: Sen. Tim McGoughR

Public testimony

98 signed in online · 8 wrote testimony

4% support96% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I oppose SB 580 because, while the cooperative purchasing program is voluntary, it centralizes control and adds state oversight that could create unnecessary bureaucracy and costs.…”
— Kathleen Malsbenden, Newmarketopposes
“I oppose this bill it not only would establish a cooperative purchasing program, it would also redefine the duties of school boards and would allow the state board of education to place any school or school administrative unit into receivership.”
— Shirley Montgomery, Hanoveropposes
“This bill not only would establish a cooperative purchasing program, it would also redefine the duties of school boards and would allow the state board of education to place any school or school administrative unit into receivership.”
— Sharon Racusin, Hanoveropposes

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 19, 2026SenateCommittee reportCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0510s3–2
    Overall
    60% yea
  • Feb 19, 2026SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2026-0510sadopted
  • Mar 5, 2026SenateCommittee reportCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0510s3–2
    Overall
    60% yea
  • Mar 5, 2026SenateVoice voteSen. Prentiss Floor Amendment # 2026-0852sfailed
  • Mar 5, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment Sections 5; 6; and the Effective Datefailed
  • Mar 5, 2026SenateVoice voteSen. Lang Moved to Reconsider the vote on: Ought to Pass with Amendment Sections 5; 6; and the Effective Dateadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • Mar 5, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment on the Remainder of the Bill and the Effective Dateadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • Mar 12, 2026HouseVoice voteVacated and Referred to Education Funding (Rep. Kofalt)adopted
  • Apr 14, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate17–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Apr 23, 2026HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 27, 2026Public hearingSenate Education44:46–46:492m 3slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Feb 19, 2026Floor debateSenate floor4:13:30–4:15:432m 13slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0510s; Committee Amendment # 2026-0510s — adopted, voice vote; Special Order to the end of the Calendar, Without Objection — adopted
  • Mar 5, 2026Floor debateSenate floor34:33–35:431m 10slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0510s; Sen. Perkins Kwoka Moved to divide the Question on Ought to Pass with Amendment with the first vote on Sections 5; 6; and the Effective Date and the second vote on the Remainder of the Bill and the Effective Date; Ought to Pass with Amendment Sections 5; 6; and the Effective Date — failed, voice vote
  • Mar 12, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamIntroduced (in recess); Vacated and Referred to Education Funding (Rep. Kofalt) — adopted, voice vote
  • Mar 31, 2026Public hearingHouse Education Funding1:33:53–1:35:431m 50slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Apr 7, 2026Public hearingHouse Education Funding2:26:27–3:17:4451m 17slocated in the stream transcriptFull Committee Work Session
  • Apr 23, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamInexpedient to Legislate — adopted, voice vote

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026SenIntroduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Education; SJ 1
  2. Jan 27, 2026SenHearing: 01/27/2026, Room Map Room, SL, 09:45 am; SC 3
  3. Feb 19, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0510s, 02/19/2026, Vote 3-2; SC 6
  4. Feb 19, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-0510s, AA, VV; 02/19/2026; SJ 4
  5. Feb 19, 2026SenSpecial Order to the end of the Calendar, Without Objection, MA; 02/19/2026;
  6. Feb 19, 2026SenSpecial Order to the Next Session, Without Objection, MA; 02/19/2026; SJ 4
  7. Mar 5, 2026SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0510s, 03/05/2026, Vote 3-2; SC 8
  8. Mar 5, 2026SenSen. Prentiss Floor Amendment # 2026-0852s, AF, VV; 03/05/2026; SJ 5
  9. Mar 5, 2026SenSen. Perkins Kwoka Moved to divide the Question on Ought to Pass with Amendment with the first vote on Sections 5; 6; and the Effective Date and the second vote on the Remainder of the Bill and the Effective Date; 03/05/2026; SJ 5
  10. Mar 5, 2026SenThe Chair ruled the Question Divisible; 03/05/2026; SJ 5
  11. Mar 5, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment Sections 5; 6; and the Effective Date; MF; VV, 03/05/2026; SJ 5
  12. Mar 5, 2026SenSen. Lang Moved to Reconsider the vote on: Ought to Pass with Amendment Sections 5; 6; and the Effective Date, MA, VV; 03/05/2026; SJ 5
  13. Mar 5, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment Sections 5; 6; and the Effective Date; MA; VV, 03/05/2026; SJ 5
  14. Mar 5, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment on the Remainder of the Bill and the Effective Date; MA; VV; OT3rdg, 03/05/2026; SJ 5
  15. Mar 12, 2026HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/12/2026 and referred to Education Policy and Administration HJ 8 P. 114
  16. Mar 12, 2026HouseVacated and Referred to Education Funding (Rep. Kofalt): MA VV (in recess of) 03/12/2026 HJ 8 P. 115
  17. Mar 31, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 03/31/2026 11:30 am GP 232
  18. Apr 7, 2026HouseFull Committee Work Session: 04/07/2026 01:30 pm GP 232
  19. Apr 14, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 04/14/2026 01:30 pm GP 232
  20. Apr 14, 2026House: Inexpedient to Legislate 04/14/2026 (Vote 17-0; CC)
  21. Apr 23, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 7

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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