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HB 1776 · 2026 · House · Education Funding Committee

Reporting foreign gifts to colleges

AI-generated

requiring higher educational institutions to report the reception of foreign grants, donations, and contracts to the department of education and the general court.

Requires higher educational institutions to report the receipt of foreign grants, donations, and contracts to the department of education and the general court.AI-generated

Status

Referred to interim study (House) · February 19, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill requires higher educational institutions to report the reception of foreign grants, donations, and contracts to the department of education and the general court.

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

““Contract” means any agreement for the acquisition by purchase, lease, or barter of property or services by the foreign source, for the direct benefit or use of either of the parties;”
RSA 200-P:1
““Covered institution” means any institution, public or private, organized under the laws of or having a campus or place of business in this state, that:”
RSA 200-P:1
“Is authorized to provide a program of education beyond secondary school within this state; and (2) Provides a program for which the institution awards a bachelor’s degree, or provides not less than a 2-year program which is acceptable for full credit toward such a degree, or a more advanced degree.”
RSA 200-P:1
“Except as provided in paragraph V, each covered institution shall provide on the first day of each calendar quarter a report detailing all reportable funding received by the covered institution from a foreign source during the previous calendar quarter.”
RSA 200-P:1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Joe SweeneyRPrimeDeputy Majority Leader
  • Rep. Joe AlexanderRChair· Housing
  • Rep. Ross BerryRChair· Election Law

Public testimony

78 signed in online · 44 wrote testimony

51% support49% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“For the record I am Representative Joe Sweeney from Salem, and I am here today to introduce HB 1776, relative to transparency and accountability for foreign funding at New Hampshire’s colleges and universities. At its core, this bill is about transparency.…”
— Rep. Joe Sweeney, Salemsupports
“I strongly support HB 1776 This critical transparency measure ensures our colleges and universities are accountable to taxpayers and students about foreign influence on our campuses. I urge you to support HB 1776 and vote "Ought to Pass." Respectfully, Rachel Anderson”
— Rachel Anderson, Nottinghamsupports
“I am writing in strong support of HB 1776, which requires higher educational institutions to report foreign grants, donations, and contracts to the Department of Education and General Court.…”
— Masha Bloodworth, Manchestersupports
“This bill would create unacceptable government intrusion into the business of private institutions.”
— Martha Jane Rich, Enfieldopposes
“I oppose this bill and refuse to vote to re-elect any candidate that chooses to support this or bills like this.”
— Samantha Poole, Barnsteadopposes
“This bill is just another way to make bigotry and intolerance legal.”
— Jennifer Cloutier, Rochesteropposes

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 10, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Refer for Interim Study18–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Feb 19, 2026HouseVoice voteRefer for Interim Studyadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 3, 2026Public hearingHouse Education Funding8:18–14:406m 22slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 6, 2026Public hearingHouse Education FundingWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full stream==RECESSED== Executive Session
  • Feb 19, 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 Funding HJ 1 P. 35
  2. Feb 3, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/03/2026 10:00 am GP 232
  3. Feb 6, 2026House==RECESSED== Executive Session: 02/06/2026 10:00 am GP 232
  4. Feb 10, 2026House==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 02/10/2026 10:00 am GP 232
  5. Feb 10, 2026House: Refer for Interim Study 02/10/2026 (Vote 18-0; CC) HC 7 P. 9
  6. Feb 19, 2026HouseRefer for Interim Study: MA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 11

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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