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HB 1563 · 2026 · House · Education Funding Committee

Special education aid formula changes

AI-generated

(New Title) relative to the special education aid formula and the administration and monitoring of state special education aid.

Establishes a threshold-based formula for distributing state special education aid to school districts for high-cost pupils, revises cost calculation considerations, and requires districts to submit certified reports to receive reimbursement.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · July 10, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill: I. Requires the department of education to distribute aid to school districts for pupils whose special education costs exceed a certain dollar value, but only up to a certain threshold. II. Creates considerations for calculating costs associated with a special education student's education.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Rick LaddRPrimeChair· Education Funding
  • Rep. Dan McGuireRVice Chair· Finance
  • Rep. Steven SmithRVice Chair· Rules
  • Sen. Victoria SullivanRVice Chair· Education
  • Sen. Keith MurphyRChair· Education Finance
  • Sen. Daniel InnisRVice Chair· Finance

Also: Rep. Keith ErfR, Rep. Raymond PeeplesR, Rep. Daniel Popovici-MullerR

Public testimony

34 signed in online · 12 wrote testimony

18% support79% oppose3% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Local tax payers are already struggling to fund schools and slowly losing service for children because the burden is too high. The state needs to step up and provide more support to the future of our state.”
— Rebecca Dalrymple, Merrimacksupports
“I oppose HB1563 because I believe this legislation will further downshift the state’s responsibility to localities, further burdening real estate property taxpayers.”
— Mary Hakken-Phillips, Hanoveropposes
“I oppose HB 1563 because it shifts the financial burden of special education from the state to local school districts and property taxpayers, while districts remain legally required to provide all mandated services.…”
— Ashley dePreaux, Merrimackopposes
“This is an absolutely disgraceful bill, trying to steal tue futures of our most vulnerable children. Shameful, despicable legislation. I will be making public the names of legislators who vote for this. It's important that people know”
— Robert Reisman, Merrimackopposes
“Please DO NOT reduce funding for special education.. These students need our help more than ever. They are perfectly capable of becoming productive citizens. I was a special ed teacher for 5 years. IDEA is an unfunded federal mandate leaving the states to foot the bill.…”
— James Chapman, Gilsumneutral

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

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings

  • 2026-01-159:30 amHouse Education FundingGP 232Public hearing
  • 2026-01-2810:00 amHouse Education FundingGP 234Public hearing
  • 2026-03-0910:00 amHouse Finance - Division IIGP 234Public hearing
  • 2026-03-1710:00 amHouse FinanceGP 230Public hearing
  • 2026-04-139:00 amSenate Education FinanceSH 100Public hearing

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Education Funding HJ 1 P. 26
  2. Jan 15, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/15/2026 01:00 pm GP 232
  3. Jan 28, 2026HouseFull Committee Work Session: 01/28/2026 10:00 am GP 234
  4. Feb 10, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/10/2026 10:00 am GP 234
  5. Feb 10, 2026House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0546h 02/10/2026 (Vote 18-0; RC) HC 7 P. 26
  6. Feb 19, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0546h: AA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 42
  7. Feb 19, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0546h: MA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 43
  8. Feb 19, 2026HouseReferred to Finance 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 43
  9. Mar 9, 2026HouseDivision II Work Session: 03/09/2026 10:00 am GP 234
  10. Mar 17, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 03/17/2026 10:00 am GP 230
  11. Mar 17, 2026House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1086h (NT) 03/17/2026 (Vote 25-0; RC)
  12. Mar 26, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-1086h (NT): AA VV 03/26/2026 HJ 9 P. 21
  13. Mar 26, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1086h: MA VV 03/26/2026 HJ 9 P. 23
  14. Mar 26, 2026SenIntroduced 03/26/2026 and Referred to Education Finance; SJ 7
  15. Apr 13, 2026SenHearing: 04/13/2026, Room 100, SH, 09:00 am; SC 14
  16. Apr 23, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass, 04/23/2026; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 15
  17. Apr 23, 2026SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 04/23/2026; SJ 10
  18. May 14, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass, 05/14/2026; Vote 7-0; CC; SC 18
  19. May 14, 2026SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
  20. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2140e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  21. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2140e: AA VV (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  22. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  23. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  24. Jul 2, 2026HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 07/02/2026; Chapter 232; eff. 7/1/2028

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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