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HB 656 · 2026 · House · Education Funding Committee

Disclosure of school district federal grants

AI-generated

relative to the authority of local school districts to accept federal grants.

Requires school districts to disclose funds received from state or federal government units in the annual report, hearing notices for unanticipated funds, and meeting minutes.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · June 22, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill requires that all funds disbursed from a state or federal government unit to a school district be disclosed either in the required annual report by the school board or in the notice of a hearing at a school board meeting to take action on unanticipated funds, as well as in the minutes of such meeting.

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

“The annual report shall also contain a summary of estimated funds anticipated from state and federal governmental units during the ensuing fiscal year.”
RSA 198:4
“For each fund, the annual report shall contain the title or other identifier of the fund as well as a summary of any obligations incurred by accepting the anticipated funds, or state that there are no obligations. 130:2 Appropriation for Unanticipated Funds Made Available During the Year.”
RSA 198:4
“Such money shall be used only for legal purposes for which a school district may appropriate money.”
RSA 198:4
“No funds disbursed from the education trust fund pursuant to RSA 198:42 shall, under any circumstances, emergency or otherwise, be deemed to be unanticipated money under the provisions of this section.”
RSA 198:4

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Katy PeternelRPrimeVice Chair· Education Policy and Administration
  • Rep. Mike DragoRMajority Whip
  • Rep. Margaret DryeRClerk· Education Policy and Administration
  • Rep. Juliet Harvey-BoliaRDeputy Majority Floor Leader
  • Rep. Kristin NobleRChair· Education Policy and Administration
  • Rep. Diane PauerRChair· Municipal and County Government
  • Rep. Pam BrownRClerk· Education Funding
  • Sen. David RochefortRChair· Health and Human Services
  • Sen. Victoria SullivanRVice Chair· Education

Also: Rep. Riché ColcombeR, Rep. Melissa LitchfieldR, Rep. Susan DeRoyR

Public testimony

No one submitted online testimony on this bill. See the record

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Nov 13, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2933h10–8
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Jan 7, 2026HouseVoice voteAmendment 2025-2933hadopted
  • Jan 7, 2026HouseRoll callOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2933hAdopted186–155How they voted
    Overall
    55% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    186–0100% yea
    Democrats
    0–1550% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • Apr 23, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass4–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Apr 23, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • May 21, 2026SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 28, 2025Public hearingHouse Education Funding4:23:14–4:24:221m 8slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 18, 2025Public hearingHouse Education FundingWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamExecutive Session
  • Mar 12, 2025Public hearingHouse Education FundingWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamExecutive Session; Retained in Committee
  • Nov 13, 2025Public hearingHouse Education FundingWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2933h — roll call; Full Committee Work Session; Executive Session
  • Jan 7, 2026Floor debateHouse floor4:20:56–4:28:207m 24slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2933h — adopted, roll call 186-155; Amendment # 2025-2933h — adopted, voice vote
  • Feb 12, 2026Public hearingSenate Education Finance1:15:35–1:17:321m 57slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Apr 23, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • May 21, 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 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Education Funding HJ 3 P. 21
  2. Jan 28, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/28/2025 02:15 pm LOB 205-207
  3. Feb 18, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 02/18/2025 10:30 am LOB 205-207
  4. Mar 11, 2025House==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 03/11/2025 10:30 am LOB 205-207
  5. Mar 12, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/12/2025 10:30 am LOB 201
  6. Mar 12, 2025HouseRetained in Committee
  7. Nov 4, 2025House==RESCHEDULED== Full Committee Work Session: 11/04/2025 01:00 pm GP 232
  8. Nov 4, 2025House==RESCHEDULED== Executive Session: 11/04/2025 02:00 pm GP 232
  9. Nov 13, 2025HouseFull Committee Work Session: 11/13/2025 01:00 pm GP 232
  10. Nov 13, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 11/13/2025 02:00 pm GP 232
  11. Nov 13, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2933h 11/13/2025 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 51 P. 25
  12. Nov 20, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  13. Jan 7, 2026HouseAmendment # 2025-2933h: AA VV 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 118
  14. Jan 7, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2933h: MA RC 186-155 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 118
  15. Jan 29, 2026SenIntroduced 01/29/2026 and Referred to Education Finance; SJ 3
  16. Feb 12, 2026SenHearing: 02/12/2026, Room 103, SH, 09:30 am; SC 5
  17. Apr 23, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass, 04/23/2026; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 15
  18. Apr 23, 2026SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/23/2026; SJ 10
  19. May 21, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/21/2026); SJ 14
  20. May 21, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 05/21/2026 HJ 14 P. 34
  21. Jun 12, 2026HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 06/12/2026; Chapter 130; eff. 08/11/2026

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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