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HB 131 · 2026 · House · Education Policy and Administration Committee

Bullying and cyberbullying prevention rules

AI-generated

(New Title) relative to bullying and cyberbullying prevention.

Requires the department of education to report data on parental-notification and investigation-extension waivers and out-of-state cyberbullying cases, and requires anti-bullying procedures and victims' rights information to be included in student handbooks.AI-generated

Status

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

Analysis

This bill: I. Requires the department of education to report the number of waivers granted for parental notification, the number of waivers granted for investigation extensions, and the number of out-of-state cyberbullying cases reported and investigated. II. Requires anti-bullying procedures to be included in the student handbook and that alleged victims get a written copy of their rights, protections, and support services available to them.

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

“Bullying or cyberbullying shall occur when an action or communication as defined in RSA 193-F:3:”
RSA 193-F:4
“The school board of each school district and the board of trustees of a chartered public school and public academy shall, no later than 6 months after the effective date of this section, adopt a written policy prohibiting bullying and cyberbullying.”
RSA 193-F:4
“A statement that there shall be disciplinary consequences or interventions, or both, for a pupil who commits an act of bullying or cyberbullying, or falsely accuses another of the same as a means of retaliation or reprisal.”
RSA 193-F:4
“A statement indicating how the policy shall be made known to school employees, regular school volunteers, pupils, parents, legal guardians, or employees of a company under contract to a school, school district, or chartered public school.”
RSA 193-F:4

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Rick LaddRPrimeChair· Education Funding
  • Rep. Margaret DryeRClerk· Education Policy and Administration
  • Rep. Kristin NobleRChair· Education Policy and Administration
  • Rep. Bob LynnRChair· Judiciary
  • Rep. Kenneth WeylerRChair· Finance
  • Rep. Gregory HillRChair· Legislative Administration
  • Rep. Steven SmithRVice Chair· Rules
  • Sen. Ruth WardRChair· Education

Also: Rep. Glenn CordelliR, Rep. Paul TerryR, Rep. Jim KofaltR

Public testimony

15 signed in online · 4 wrote testimony

7% support93% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I have been pestering the local school board to remove student cell phones from class room for over a decade. They simply smirked like you are an idiot and promptly ignored the issue.…”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuasupports
“Please help support our students and teachers. They were not the ones to cause this issue but 5hey are paying the costs.”
— Lyn Lupien, Rochesteropposes
“Please see attached document on behalf of a Regional Collaborative Educational Group who opposes this HB131 non germane amendment.”
— Sarah Skoglund, Straffordopposes
“We, the district coordinators of wellness and counseling, along with a regional working group of educators representing approximately 10,000 students and their families, are writing to share our concerns regarding House Bill 131 and to highlight the critical role of Multi-Tiered…”
— Beth Corkum, Bowopposes

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

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 23, 2025Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration4:10:26–4:12:201m 54slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 3, 2025Public hearingHouse Education Policy and AdministrationWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamSubcommittee Work Session
  • Mar 12, 2025Public hearingHouse Education Policy and AdministrationWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamExecutive Session
  • Nov 5, 2025Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration3:39–4:0425slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-3071h (NT) — roll call; Public Hearing on non-germane Amendment # 2025-3000h; Executive Session
  • Jan 7, 2026Floor debateHouse floor5:13:28–5:22:599m 31slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-3071h — adopted, roll call 190-149; Amendment # 2025-3071h (NT) — adopted, voice vote
  • Mar 24, 2026Public hearingSenate Education21:25–23:221m 57slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Apr 16, 2026Floor debateSenate floor24:19–32:007m 41slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1396s; Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1396s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-1396s — adopted, voice vote
  • May 7, 2026Floor debateHouse floor10:50–12:351m 45slocated in the stream transcriptHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1396s (Rep. Noble) — adopted, division 169-133
  • May 21, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2131e — adopted, voice vote
  • May 21, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2131e Adopted — voice vote
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled 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. 7
  2. Jan 23, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/23/2025 02:00 pm LOB 205-207
  3. Mar 3, 2025HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 03/03/2025 11:00 am LOB 203
  4. Mar 12, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/12/2025 10:00 am LOB 205-207
  5. Mar 5, 2025HouseRetained in Committee
  6. Nov 5, 2025HousePublic Hearing on non-germane Amendment # 2025-3000h: 11/05/2025 09:30 am GP 232
  7. Nov 5, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 11/05/2025 02:00 pm GP 232
  8. Nov 5, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-3071h (NT) 11/05/2025 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 51 P. 28
  9. Nov 19, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  10. Jan 7, 2026HouseAmendment # 2025-3071h (NT): AA VV 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 133
  11. Jan 7, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-3071h: MA RC 190-149 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 135
  12. Jan 29, 2026SenIntroduced 01/29/2026 and Referred to Education; SJ 3
  13. Mar 24, 2026SenHearing: 03/24/2026, Map Room, SL, 09:35 am; SC 11
  14. Apr 16, 2026SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1396s, 04/16/2026, Vote 3-2; SC 14
  15. Apr 16, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1396s, AA, VV; 04/16/2026; SJ 9
  16. Apr 16, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1396s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/16/2026; SJ 9
  17. May 7, 2026HouseHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1396s (Rep. Noble): MA DV 169-133 05/07/2026 HJ 12 P. 2
  18. May 21, 2026SenEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2131e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 05/21/2026); SJ 14
  19. May 21, 2026HouseEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2131e: AA VV (in recess of) 05/21/2026 HJ 14 P. 37
  20. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  21. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  22. Jul 2, 2026HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 07/02/2026; Chapter 205; eff. I. Sec 3 1/1/2027 II. Rem eff 8/1/2026

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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