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HB 741 · 2026 · House · Education Policy and Administration Committee

School choice across districts

AI-generated

allowing parents to send their children to any school district they choose.

Allows parents to enroll their children in public schools located outside their resident school district.AI-generated

Status

Referred to interim study (Senate) · January 7, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill allows parents to send their children to public schools outside of their resident district.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“A school district shall post the total capacity of each individual school in the district, the capacity of each grade level, and the number of vacancies in each individual school in the district on the district website by the first of each month.”
RSA 194-D:2
“There shall be no tuition charge for any pupil attending [an open enrollment] a public school [located in that pupil's resident district].”
RSA 194-D:5
“The state board shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, consistent with the provisions of this chapter relative to the administration of open enrollment in public schools across the state.”
RSA 194-D:7
“Each school district in the state shall report annually to the state commissioner of education the number of transfer applications, acceptances, denials and the reason for each denial.”
RSA 194-D:2

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Glenn CordelliRPrime
  • Sen. Keith MurphyRChair· Education Finance
  • Sen. Victoria SullivanRVice Chair· Education

Also: Rep. Paul TerryR

Public testimony

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

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Mar 17, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0336h10–8
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Mar 27, 2025HouseVoice voteAmendment 2025-0336hadopted
  • Mar 27, 2025HouseRoll callOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0336hAdopted198–174How they voted
    Overall
    53% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    196–996% yea
    Democrats
    2–1651% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 1, 2025SenateCommittee report: Rereferred to Committee4–1
    Overall
    80% yea
  • May 1, 2025SenateVoice voteRereferred to Committeeadopted
  • Jan 7, 2026SenateCommittee reportCommittee report: Referred to Interim Study5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Jan 7, 2026SenateVoice voteRefer to Interim Studyadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 18, 2025Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration6:20:34–6:31:0210m 28slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 17, 2025Public hearingHouse Education Policy and Administration1:16:52–1:22:285m 36slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0336h — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 27, 2025Floor debateHouse floor1:01:50–1:09:357m 45slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0336h — adopted, roll call 198-174; Amendment # 2025-0336h — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 10, 2025Public hearingSenate Education2:29:04–2:33:424m 38slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 1, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Rereferred to Committee; Rereferred to Committee — adopted, voice vote
  • Jan 7, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Referred to Interim Study; Refer to Interim Study — 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 Policy and Administration HJ 3 P. 25
  2. Feb 18, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/18/2025 03:15 pm LOB 202-204
  3. Mar 17, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/17/2025 09:30 am LOB 205-207
  4. Mar 17, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0336h 03/17/2025 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 17 P. 53
  5. Mar 19, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Mar 27, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0336h: AA VV 03/27/2025 HJ 11 P. 14
  7. Mar 27, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0336h: MA RC 198-174 03/27/2025 HJ 11 P. 14
  8. Mar 27, 2025SenIntroduced 03/27/2025 and Referred to Education; SJ 10
  9. Apr 10, 2025SenHearing: 04/10/2025, Room 101, LOB, 09:45 am; SC 16
  10. May 1, 2025SenCommittee Report: Rereferred to Committee, 05/01/2025, Vote 4-1, CC SC 19
  11. May 1, 2025SenRereferred to Committee, MA, VV; 05/01/2025; SJ 11
  12. Jan 7, 2026Sen: Referred to Interim Study, 01/07/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 46
  13. Jan 7, 2026SenRefer to Interim Study, MA, VV; 01/07/2026; SJ 1

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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