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SB 491 · 2026 · Senate · Education Finance Committee

Education freedom account career funding

AI-generated

(New Title) enabling students to utilize education freedom account funds to pay for certain career and technical education funding and removing references to "curriculum frameworks" as they relate to the substantive educational content of an adequate education.

Enables students to use education freedom account funds to pay for career and technical education and removes references to curriculum frameworks in defining the substantive content of an adequate education.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · July 9, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✓House
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill enables students to utilize education freedom account funds to pay for certain career and technical education funding and removes references to "curriculum frameworks" as they relate to the substantive educational content of an adequate education.

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 department of education shall establish separate funds for tuition and transportation and determine the cost for each on an annual basis in accordance with the provisions of RSA 188:E-6, IV and 188-E:9, II-III.”
Section 256:2
“The scholarship organization, in cooperation with the department of education, shall make available to EFA students in grades 9-12 information about enrolling in career and technical education classes and programs.”
Section 256:3
“Each school district shall be responsible for maintaining, updating, improving, and refining curriculum.”
Section 256:4
“The curriculum shall present educational goals, broad pedagogical approaches, and strategies for assisting students in the development of the skills, competencies, and knowledge called for by the minimum standards for public school approval and academic standards for each area of education identified in paragraph I.”
Section 256:4

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. David WattersDPrime
  • Sen. Timothy LangRMajority Whip
  • Sen. Victoria SullivanRVice Chair· Education
  • Sen. Kevin AvardRDeputy Majority Whip
  • Sen. Mark McConkeyRChair· Capital Budget
  • Sen. Howard PearlRChair· Executive Departments and Administration

Also: Sen. Tim McGoughR, Sen. Pat LongD

Public testimony

44 signed in online · 8 wrote testimony

20% support80% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“My name is Piotr Kukula, and I am a sophomore currently residing in Bedford, New Hampshire.…”
— Piotr Kukula, Bedfordsupports
“I support this bill because students should be afforded every possible option for education, and we are desperately in need of trained workers in the trades.…”
— Timothy Lenihan, Enfieldsupports
“This bill takes away funding from schools that already struggle to meet standards. We should be INVESTING into our schools, not moving the money to already affluent towns and letting the struggling schools fail.…”
— james sullivan, bedfordopposes
“I oppose this bill becase it would require a public school district to fund costs associated with non-public school EFA students, thereby reducing the amount of money available for public school students.”
— Shirley Montgomery, Hanoveropposes
“public school districts would have to fund costs associated with non-public school EFA students, thereby reducing the amount of money available for public school students. I OBJECT”
— Sharon Racusin, Hanoveropposes

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

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 22, 2026Public hearingSenate Education Finance41:05–42:481m 43slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Feb 5, 2026Floor debateSenate floor1:31:15–1:31:5338slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0379s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-0379s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-0379s — adopted, voice vote
  • Mar 12, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Mar 31, 2026Public hearingHouse Education Funding13:20–15:001m 40slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Apr 7, 2026Public hearingHouse Education FundingWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamFull Committee Work Session
  • Apr 28, 2026Public hearingHouse Education Funding2:05:07–2:14:038m 56slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1707h (NT); Public Hearing on non-germane Amendment # 2026-1441h; ==CANCELLED== Executive Session
  • May 7, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1707h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2026-1707h — adopted, voice vote
  • May 14, 2026Floor debateSenate floor6:42:20–6:43:0949slocated in the stream transcriptSen. Murphy Moved to Concur with the House Amendment — 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, 2026SenIntroduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Education Finance; SJ 1
  2. Jan 22, 2026SenHearing: 01/22/2026, Room 103, SH, 10:20 am; SC 47A
  3. Feb 5, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0379s, 02/05/2026, Vote 5-1; SC 4
  4. Feb 5, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-0379s, AA, VV; 02/05/2026; SJ 3
  5. Feb 5, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-0379s, MA, VV; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 02/05/2026; SJ 3
  6. Mar 12, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass, 03/12/2026; Vote 6-0; CC; SC 9
  7. Mar 12, 2026SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/12/2026; SJ 6
  8. Mar 12, 2026HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/12/2026 and referred to Education Funding HJ 8 P. 114
  9. Mar 31, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 03/31/2026 10:00 am GP 232
  10. Apr 7, 2026HouseFull Committee Work Session: 04/07/2026 01:30 pm GP 232
  11. Apr 28, 2026HousePublic Hearing on non-germane Amendment # 2026-1441h: 04/28/2026 10:00 am GP 232
  12. Apr 28, 2026House==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 04/28/2026 10:30 am GP 232
  13. Apr 28, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 04/28/2026 11:15 am GP 232
  14. Apr 28, 2026House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1707h (NT) 04/28/2026 (Vote 17-0; CC) HC 18 P. 6
  15. May 7, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-1707h: AA VV 05/07/2026 HJ 12 P. 5
  16. May 7, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1707h: MA VV 05/07/2026 HJ 12 P. 5
  17. May 14, 2026SenSen. Murphy Moved to Concur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
  18. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  19. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  20. Jul 2, 2026SenSigned by the Governor on 07/02/2026; Chapter 256; Effective 07/01/2027

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Background reading

Evergreen reading on the policy area — spanning perspectives — not coverage of this specific bill.

Documents (PDF)

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