HB 1557 · 2026 · House · Education Funding Committee
Special education funding formula changes
AI-generatedmodifying the state average expenditure per pupil relative to students in special education.
Modifies the required state aid provided to school districts for special education costs and removes proration of related appropriations for each fiscal year.AI-generated
Status
Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · February 19, 2026- ✓Introduced
- ✕House
- Senate
- Governor
- Law
Analysis
This bill modifies the required state aid to be provided to school districts for the costs of special education. The bill also removes the proration of such appropriations relative to the costs of special education for each fiscal year.
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
“The department of education shall distribute aid available under this paragraph as entitlement to such school districts as have a special education pupil for whose costs they are responsible, for whom the costs of special education in the fiscal year exceed [3 and 1/2] 1 and 1/2 times the most current state average expenditure per pupil for the school year preceding the year of distribution.”
“If in any year, the amount appropriated for distribution as special education aid in accordance with this section is insufficient therefor, the appropriation shall be prorated proportionally based on entitlement among the districts entitled to a grant, provided that the department of education shall distribute to the school district not less than 80 percent of the district's entitlement in the fiscal year.”
“The state may designate up to $250,000 of the funds which are appropriated as required by this paragraph, for each fiscal year, to assist those school districts which, under guidelines established by rules of the state board of education, may qualify for emergency assistance to mitigate the impact of special education costs.”
“The state may designate up to an additional $250,000 of the funds which are appropriated under this paragraph for each fiscal year for any community of 1,000 or fewer residents to mitigate the impact of special education costs when emergency assistance is necessary to prevent significant financial harm to such district or community.”
Official record
gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source
Sponsors
Rep. Mary Jane WallnerDPrimeSenior Democratic Advisor
- Rep. David LuneauDRanking Member· Education Funding
- Rep. Hope DamonDDeputy Ranking Member· Education Funding
- Rep. Patricia CornellDRanking Member· Education Policy
- Rep. Kate MurrayDRanking Member· Finance Division 2
- Rep. Alexis SimpsonDDemocratic Leader
- Rep. Skip RollinsRVice Chair· State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs
- Sen. Cindy RosenwaldDDeputy Democratic Leader
Also: Rep. Dick AmesD
Public testimony
116 signed in online · 25 wrote testimony
90% support9% oppose2% neutral
In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted
“AFT-NH supports the concept of lowering the threshhold at which a local district becomes eligible for State reimbursement of a portion of higher than average per pupil special education costs.…”
“I am completely on board with the state spending more money on students in general.”
“For years lawmakers have ignored the courts and continued to underfund public education while using taxpayer dollars to fund school vouchers, with budgets running over, no oversight or accountability and in direct violation of separation of church and state.…”
“The fiscal note alone points out the overhead this bill would require, which would reduce funds available for education.”
“Members of the committee. Enough already!! They inflated their pensions as it is with their greed and thievery!! No Bo No. thank you”
“Malevolent forces want the state to pay for bloated local union contracts. Everyone knows cost impacts are best managed and become REAL when they are local. Judiciary has no business intruding into the legislature's constitutional authority.…”
“I would be willing to consider this bill if it were perhaps combined with a property Tax Cap structured as a TABOR amendment. Another sweetener might be combination with the SAU consolidation and an EFA adjustment/inclusion.…”
“I have to stay neutral on this because you say you're going to modify what is paid to special ed but you don't say whether you're gonna lower it or raise it.…”
Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.
Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026
Votes
yeanay- Feb 6, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate10–8Overall56% yea
- Overall54% yeaParty-line voteRepublicans184–199% yeaDemocrats0–1560% yea
Hearings and debates
- Jan 15, 2026Public hearingHouse Education Funding2:40:40–2:46:255m 45slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
- Jan 28, 2026Public hearingHouse Education Funding12:30–36:3624m 6slocated in the stream transcriptFull Committee Work Session
- Feb 6, 2026Public hearingHouse Education Funding4:32:33–4:33:411m 8slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate — roll call; Executive Session
- Feb 19, 2026Floor debateHouse floor41:57–44:583m 1slocated in the stream transcriptInexpedient to Legislate — adopted, roll call 184-157
Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.
Legislative history
- Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Education Funding HJ 1 P. 25
- Jan 15, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/15/2026 11:00 am GP 232
- Jan 28, 2026HouseFull Committee Work Session: 01/28/2026 10:00 am GP 234
- Feb 6, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/06/2026 10:00 am GP 232
- Feb 6, 2026HouseMajority : Inexpedient to Legislate 02/06/2026 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 7 P. 25
- Feb 11, 2026HouseMinority : Ought to Pass
- Feb 19, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA RC 184-157 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 39
Coverage
No reporting linked yet.
Documents (PDF)
Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.