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HB 1644 · 2026 · House · Education Policy and Administration Committee

Cooperative school district withdrawal rules

AI-generated

permitting towns to unilaterally withdraw from a cooperative school district.

Permits a single district or town within a cooperative school district to initiate withdrawal proceedings, removes the committee determination step, and eliminates the supermajority vote that could block withdrawal.AI-generated

Status

Referred to interim study (House) · March 11, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill: I. Permits a single district or town within a cooperative school district to initiate the procedure for review for withdrawal from the cooperative school district. II. Amends the current procedure for review by removing the step for committee determination of the withdrawal plan. III. Removes the ability of a 3/5 supermajority of voters in the entire cooperative school district from preventing a single district or town's withdrawal.

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

“After the tenth anniversary of the date of operating responsibility, the school board of a cooperative school district may initiate a review of the feasibility and suitability of the withdrawal of one or more member districts from the cooperative district.”
RSA 195:25
“A similar review shall be initiated if, after the tenth anniversary of the date of operating responsibility, a [pre-existing district] member district or town intending to withdraw from the cooperative school district shall, by a 3/5 majority vote on a warrant article at a regular or special town meeting, direct the school board of a cooperative school district to initiate such a review.”
RSA 195:25
“In either case, the review shall be conducted by a committee composed of one member of the school board from each of the pre-existing districts, one member of the board of selectmen from each town within the cooperative school district, and such other members as may be appointed by the committee.”
RSA 195:25
“The committee shall have its first meeting no later 60 days following its creation or by the vote at the annual meeting which established the committee.”
RSA 195:25

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Dan McGuireRPrimeVice Chair· Finance
  • Rep. Walter SpilsburyRVice Chair· Education Funding
  • Sen. Ruth WardRChair· Education

Also: Rep. Donald McFarlaneR, Rep. Mary MurphyR

Public testimony

186 signed in online · 23 wrote testimony

4% support96% oppose1% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“This bill is harmful to cooperative school districts, their students, teachers, funding, and educational standards.…”
— Victoria Flaherty, Bedfordopposes
“This bill would interfere with a school district's ability to fully fund these schools and raise property taxes on those schools remaining.”
— Christine Hodsdon, EXETERopposes
“This bill could significantly disrupt school district budgets and raise property taxes on those in cooperative school districts”
— Lisa Ferrigno, Newportopposes
“I appreciate the opportunity to submit testimony on HB 1644. This bill offers a clearer and more direct process for individual towns to initiate review of withdrawal from a cooperative school district.…”
— Timothy Swaan, N. Haverhillneutral

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· consent calendar: Refer for Interim Study15–3
    Overall
    83% yea
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseVoice voteRefer for Interim Studyadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 9, 2026Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration51:16–52:241m 8slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 2, 2026Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration5:38:45–5:39:3146slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Refer for Interim Study; Executive Session
  • Mar 11, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamRefer for Interim Study — adopted, voice vote

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. Feb 9, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/09/2026 11:00 am GP 232
  3. Mar 2, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 03/02/2026 09:30 am GP 232
  4. Mar 2, 2026House: Refer for Interim Study 03/02/2026 (Vote 15-3; CC) HC 10 P. 13
  5. Mar 11, 2026HouseRefer for Interim Study: MA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 20

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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