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HB 1640 · 2026 · House · Education Policy and Administration Committee

School billing consent rules

AI-generated

relative to consent for school billing purposes.

Directs the department of education and the insurance department to adopt rules relative to signature requirements for school billing consent.AI-generated

Status

Died on the table in the House · March 5, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill directs department of education and the insurance department to adopt rules relative to signature requirements for school billing.

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

“Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the department of education and the insurance department shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to requiring school districts to obtain a yearly consent form from parents authorizing them to access their Medicaid insurance.”
RSA 167:34-a
“A school district shall obtain written parental consent, after providing notification to the child’s parent or legal guardian, prior to accessing a child’s or parent’s public benefits or insurance for the first time.”
RSA 167:34-a
“Assessments of public benefits under this act shall be taken consistent with rules relative to Medicaid, expanded Medicaid, and school's reimbursement eligibility adopted by the department of education and the department of health and human services pursuant to RSA 541-A.”
RSA 167:34-a
“Should a child move out of one school district and into another, a new signature shall be sought by the new resident-district via the procedures identified in paragraph I.”
RSA 167:34-a

Official record

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Megan MurrayDPrime

Public testimony

6 signed in online · 3 wrote testimony

67% support33% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“AFT-NH supports this bill. It is a minor adjustment to current law to save parents from being needlessly called back each time there is an administrative change to the numbering of Medicaid billing codes, yet still allow the student to receive services the parent had agreed to in the IEP.…”
— Debrah Howes, Bow · American Federation of Teachers - NHsupports
“I support HB 1640 because it protects parental consent while allowing school districts to recover Medicaid funds for services they are already required to provide. This helps reduce pressure on local property taxes without expanding government or mandates.…”
— Kathleen Malsbenden, Newmarketsupports
“Testimony opposing HB 1640 highlights significant intersectional harms that this legislation can inflict on vulnerable populations, particularly low-income families and children with disabilities.…”
— Georgina Lambert, Belmontopposes

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 18, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate9–7
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Mar 5, 2026HouseDivisionLay HB1640 on Table (Rep. Noble)Adopted176–153
    Overall
    53% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 14, 2026Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration21:40–22:481m 8slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 5, 2026Floor debateHouse floor6:10:22–6:15:385m 16slocated in the stream transcriptLay HB1640 on Table (Rep. Noble) — adopted, division 176-153

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. 29
  2. Jan 14, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/14/2026 10:10 am GP 232
  3. Feb 18, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/18/2026 10:10 am GP 232
  4. Feb 18, 2026HouseMajority : Inexpedient to Legislate 02/18/2026 (Vote 9-7; RC) HC 9 P. 38
  5. Feb 24, 2026HouseMinority : Ought to Pass
  6. Mar 5, 2026HouseLay HB1640 on Table (Rep. Noble): MA DV 176-153 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 105

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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