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HB 1824 · 2026 · House · Education Funding Committee

Aid for financially distressed schools

AI-generated

relative to school district financial distress.

Authorizes loan agreements and municipal assistance for financially insolvent school districts and establishes a revolving loan fund to help school districts manage cash flow pending adequacy payments.AI-generated

Status

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

Analysis

This bill: I. Authorizes the commissioner of the department of education, with the affirmation of the joint legislative fiscal committee, to enter into loan agreements with financially insolvent school districts. II. Authorizes municipalities to provide financially insolvent school districts with assistance from existing municipal funds and increases the maximum percentage of funding available to such school districts through a contingency fund. III. Establishes the school district adequacy revolving loan fund to assist school districts with cash flow in anticipation of adequacy payments.

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

“"Financial insolvency" means a school district whose annual expenditures have exceeded their available funding for the fiscal year, including but not limited to funds made available by the state pursuant to RSA 198 and funds from a contingency fund as defined in RSA 198:4-b.”
RSA 198:20-e
“Any municipality in which a financially insolvent school district is located, as defined in 198:20-e, I may provide emergency assistance from existing municipal funds to said school district.”
RSA 198:20-f
“There is hereby established in the department of treasury a fund to be known as the school district adequacy revolving loan fund, which shall be kept separate and distinct from all other funds.”
RSA 194:63
“At no time shall the total outstanding amount of loans made under this subdivision exceed 75 percent of total adequacy funding to be distributed to a school district, pursuant to RSA 198:41, in any given year.”
RSA 194:64

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Hope DamonDPrimeDeputy Ranking Member· Education Funding
  • Rep. Dale GirardRVice Chair· Special Committee on COVID Response Efficacy
  • Rep. John CloutierDRanking Member· Public Works and Highways
  • Rep. Karen EbelDDemocratic Leader Pro Tempore

Also: Rep. Dick AmesD, Rep. Eileen KellyD, Rep. Tony CaplanD, Rep. Tracy BricchiD

Public testimony

52 signed in online · 7 wrote testimony

94% support6% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Clear, early processes for addressing financial distress can prevent crises that harm students and educators, but solutions must prioritize educational equity and avoid disproportionate impacts on high-need districts.”
— Hannah Meiselman, Machestersupports
“This is a better way to deal with insolvent school districts rather than having a ruthless intervention. Adequately funding schools would solve this problem.”
— Sharon Racusin, Hanoversupports
“It seems rather foolish to repeal the business entrprise tax when the state faces fiscal challenges. This will increase financial pressure on property poor towns.”
— Susan Holcombe, Hanoversupports

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: Refer for Interim Study10–8
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseRoll callSpecial Order to next order of business (Rep. Damon)Failed151–180How they voted
    Overall
    46% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    0–1800% yea
    Democrats
    151–0100% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 27, 2026Public hearingHouse Education Funding2:14:30–2:38:0923m 39slocated in the stream transcript==ROOM CHANGE== Public Hearing
  • Feb 18, 2026Public hearingHouse Education FundingWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full stream==RECESSED== Executive Session
  • Mar 3, 2026Public hearingHouse Education Fundingfrom 2:36:06located in the stream transcript==CONTINUED== Executive Session
  • Mar 11, 2026Floor debateHouse floor4:39:40–4:43:363m 56slocated in the stream transcriptSpecial Order to next order of business (Rep. Damon) — failed, roll call 151-180

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. 38
  2. Jan 27, 2026House==ROOM CHANGE== Public Hearing: 01/27/2026 11:30 am GP 234
  3. Feb 18, 2026House==RECESSED== Executive Session: 02/18/2026 10:00 am GP 234
  4. Mar 3, 2026House==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 03/03/2026 01:00 pm GP 232
  5. Mar 2, 2026HouseMajority : Refer for Interim Study 03/02/2026 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 10 P. 82
  6. Mar 4, 2026HouseMinority : Ought to Pass
  7. Mar 11, 2026HouseSpecial Order to next order of business (Rep. Damon): MF RC 151-180 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 103

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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