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HB 1401 · 2026 · House · Education Policy and Administration Committee

For-profit scholarship organization managers

AI-generated

amending the meaning of scholarship organization as it pertains to education freedom accounts.

Redefines "scholarship organization" under the education freedom account law to allow the department of education to approve for-profit entities as qualified administrators.AI-generated

Status

Referred to interim study (House) · March 4, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill allows the department of education to select for-profit scholarship organizations.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“"Scholarship organization" means a scholarship organization approved under RSA 77:G or a qualified entity approved by the department of education that administers and implements the EFA Act.”
Section 1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Melissa LitchfieldRPrime
  • Rep. Jodi NelsonRClerk· Children and Family Law
  • Sen. Bill GannonRChair· Judiciary
  • Sen. Ruth WardRChair· Education
  • Sen. Timothy LangRMajority Whip

Also: Rep. Raymond PeeplesR, Rep. Susan PorcelliR

Public testimony

217 signed in online · 59 wrote testimony

1% support99% oppose0% neutral

AgainstKeep the trusted local nonprofit (CSF) administering EFAs

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“HB1401 would set New Hampshire back decades in terms of innovation and forward motion for education.…”
— Meg Ebba, BARRINGTONopposes
“There are multiple benefits both to the state as a whole and to the families who use the EFA program to having a non-profit manage the program. I am opposed to bringing in a large corporation to run this program. Keep it local, keep it small, keep it non-profit.”
— Jessica Mathews, Kingstonopposes
“The EFA is an extremely beneficial program allowing to provide additional resources, curriculum and programs that would otherwise not be possible to provide due to financial restraints.…”
— Mellisa Denny, Londonderryopposes

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
  • Mar 2, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Refer for Interim Study13–4
    Overall
    76% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 18, 2026Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration2:57:26–3:13:0915m 43slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 2, 2026Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration4:19:52–4:21:001m 8slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Refer for Interim Study — roll call; Executive Session

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Education Policy and Administration HJ 1 P. 18
  2. Feb 18, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/18/2026 10:45 am GP 232
  3. Mar 2, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 03/02/2026 09:30 am GP 232
  4. Mar 2, 2026HouseMajority : Refer for Interim Study 03/02/2026 (Vote 13-4; RC) HC 10 P. 84
  5. Mar 4, 2026HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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