Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
← All bills

HB 1817 · 2026 · House · Education Policy and Administration Committee

School program access for voucher students

AI-generated

(New Title) relative to access to curricular courses and cocurricular programs within school districts.

As amended, this bill extends the existing right of access to school district curricular courses and cocurricular programs, including statewide assessments, to education freedom account students on the same terms as resident public school pupils.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · June 24, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill expands access to curricular courses and cocurricular programs within school districts for education freedom account students.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as enacted. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“Nonpublic, public chartered school, education freedom account, or home educated pupils shall have access to curricular courses and cocurricular programs offered by the school district in which the pupil resides, including the statewide assessment and preliminary scholastic aptitude test (PSAT).”
RSA 193:1-c
“The local school board shall adopt a policy regulating participation in curricular courses and cocurricular programs[, provided that such].”
RSA 193:1-c
“Such policy shall not be more restrictive for non-public, public chartered school, education freedom account, or home educated pupils than the policy governing the school district's resident pupils.”
RSA 193:1-c
“In this section, "cocurricular" shall include those activities which are designed to supplement and enrich regular academic programs of study, provide opportunities for social development, and encourage participation in clubs, athletics, performing groups, and service to school and community.”
RSA 193:1-c

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Valerie McDonnellRPrime
  • Rep. Pam BrownRClerk· Education Funding
  • Rep. Katelyn KuttabRClerk· Judiciary
  • Rep. Gregory HillRChair· Legislative Administration

Also: Rep. Bryan MorseR, Rep. James ThibaultR

Public testimony

548 signed in online · 115 wrote testimony

49% support51% oppose0% neutral

ForGeneral support without elaborated reasoning

AgainstProviding free access costs taxpayers/schools twice

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Today, public schools benefit from the most comprehensive access, the largest student enrollment, significant resources, and extensive grant opportunities, all funded primarily by federal and local taxpayers.…”
— Tiffany Diamond, Nashua · My childsupports
“As an individual who continues to pay full property taxes into my local school district yet neither of my children attend, I fully support treating EFA recipients as equal persons under the law and permitting those children reasonable access to their local school district.”
— William Miskimen, Doversupports
“All New Hampshire residents deserve access to public education, especially in their own town/city/district. It is unimaginable that residents are being taxed then charged for in district education. Whatever their choices are education it needs to be fair.”
— Andrew Fulchino, East Kingstonsupports
“If EFA recipients get equal access this ends up costing the state (aka taxpayers) more. Not only would those on the EFA pathway get the public funds in class wallet, if they utilize the public school, the state would end up paying out again for them to attend the class.…”
— Angela Turcotte, Doveropposes
“Having equal access as an EFA student has allowed my children educational opportunities that are impossible to provide as a home educated family.…”
— Lauren Rockafellow, Mont Vernonopposes
“State of New Hampshire: Adequately fund public schools! Stop further draining local resources with vouchers.”
— Beth Perkins, New Londonopposes
“I support this bill because it addresses a narrow access issue within existing law without destabilizing school funding, undermining local control, or expanding state bureaucracy.…”
— Timothy Swaan, North 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· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0911h (NT)10–8
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseDivisionAmendment 2026-0911hAdopted177–150
    Overall
    54% yea
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseRoll callOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0911hAdopted179–156How they voted
    Overall
    53% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    179–697% yea
    Democrats
    0–1500% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 7, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1733s3–2
    Overall
    60% yea
  • May 7, 2026SenateVoice voteSen. Ward Moved Laid on Tableadopted
  • May 14, 2026SenateVoice voteSen. Abbas Moved to Remove From Tableadopted
  • May 14, 2026SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2026-1733sfailed
  • May 14, 2026SenateRoll callOught to PassAdopted15–8How they voted
    Overall
    65% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    15–0100% yea
    Democrats
    0–80% yea
  • Jun 4, 2026SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 4, 2026Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration1:00:37–1:10:179m 40slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 2, 2026Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration6:19:42–6:21:001m 18slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0911h (NT) — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 11, 2026Floor debateHouse floor5:39:50–5:46:056m 15slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0911h — adopted, roll call 179-156; Amendment # 2026-0911h (NT) — adopted, division 177-150
  • Mar 31, 2026Public hearingSenate Education1:03:18–1:12:419m 23slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 7, 2026Floor debateSenate floor2:31:20–2:32:271m 7slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1733s; Pending Motion Committee Amendment # 2026-1733s; Sen. Ward Moved Laid on Table — adopted, voice vote
  • May 14, 2026Floor debateSenate floor10:59:57–11:03:303m 33slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass — adopted, roll call 15-8; Committee Amendment # 2026-1733s — failed, voice vote; Sen. Abbas Moved to Remove From Table — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled 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. 37
  2. Feb 4, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/04/2026 10:45 am GP 232
  3. Mar 2, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 03/02/2026 09:30 am GP 232
  4. Mar 2, 2026HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0911h (NT) 03/02/2026 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 10 P. 38
  5. Mar 4, 2026HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Mar 11, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0911h (NT): AA DV 177-150 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 134
  7. Mar 11, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0911h: MA RC 179-156 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 135
  8. Mar 12, 2026SenIntroduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Education; SJ 7
  9. Mar 31, 2026SenHearing: 03/31/2026, Room Map Room, SL, 09:25 am; SC 12
  10. May 7, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1733s, 05/07/2026, Vote 3-2; SC 17
  11. May 7, 2026SenSen. Ward Moved Laid on Table, MA, VV; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
  12. May 7, 2026SenPending Motion Committee Amendment # 2026-1733s; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
  13. May 14, 2026SenSen. Abbas Moved to Remove From Table, MA, VV; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
  14. May 14, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1733s, AF, VV; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
  15. May 14, 2026SenOught to Pass: RC 15Y-8N, MA; OT3rdg; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
  16. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  17. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  18. Jun 19, 2026HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 06/19/2026; Chapter 183; eff.08/18/2026

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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