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House passes a state budget, to the surprise of many
For weeks, many doubted the House would pass a budget at all. But a narrowly divided chamber surprised the state on Thursday by passing a biennial state budget on a bipartisan voice vote. And a last-minute compromise reached between Republican and Democratic leadership the day before helped make it happen. “That was not the result […]
House approves raising income cap on free and reduced-price school meals
New Hampshire lawmakers are considering expanding the free and reduced-price meal program in public schools to allow families with higher incomes to participate. House Bill 572, which passed the House last week 201-177, would raise the cap on who can participate in the meals program to families making 300 percent of the federal poverty level. […]
Citing a surplus, House Republicans propose dramatically reducing Education Trust Fund revenues
New Hampshire’s Education Trust Fund has racked up a sizable surplus recently. The fund, which pays out just over a billion dollars a year for the state’s share of public school funding, is expected to end this fiscal year with about $184 million unspent, current estimates state. The extra money is largely the result of […]
House moves toward using Medicaid data to enroll families in free and reduced-price lunch program
This story was updated on March 31, 2023 at 1:27 p.m. to correct the name of the representative who is quoted opposing the bill. The House Calendar, which first published the remarks, had misidentified the name of the representative. For families making up to 185 percent of the federal poverty level, New Hampshire public schools […]
House budget writers seek to cut Sununu’s housing fund, delay new prison, boost Medicaid rates
When Gov. Chris Sununu addressed lawmakers to deliver his budget address in February, he promised “a smart and targeted budget that sets us all up for an even brighter future.” But not all of the governor’s proposals have been embraced by House Republican budget writers. There’s a $40-million-a-year gap between Sununu’s revenue estimates and those […]
Parental bill of rights narrowly fails in NH House, but debate isn’t over yet
The New Hampshire House on Wednesday voted down an effort to require educators to tell inquiring parents whether their child had made any changes to their pronouns at school – or face jail time. But the chamber left open the possibility of revisiting the issue when a similar Senate bill crosses over to the House […]
As Republicans seek repeal of communications service tax, Democrats warn it’s too soon
This article was updated at on March 21 at 10:20 a.m. to clarify that the communications services tax revenue is equivalent to half the annual budget of the state’s community college system. Since 1990, New Hampshire has taxed telephone communications, collecting $30 million a year in revenues from service providers who pass the tax onto […]
Senate passes controversial parental rights bill, sending it to House
The New Hampshire Senate passed a parental rights bill on party lines Thursday, sending to the House legislation that would require schools to disclose changes to a student’s gender identity if a parent asks. Senate Bill 272, which passed the Republican-led Senate on party lines, would help inform parents of a number of existing rights […]
Public schools slow to embrace new law allowing ‘innovation plans’
As middle school students returned to the classroom after remote learning during COVID-19, Concord School District officials knew they needed a new learning approach. Kids were disoriented after remote and hybrid learning had disrupted their ability to socialize. So the district looked outside of its own walls for solutions. In May 2022, Concord received state […]
Trans youth feel unheard as Republicans debate parental rights in State House
Three years ago, when Flynn Ortiz came out as transgender, they followed a deliberate strategy. First, they told a friend. “I was like, ‘Do you mind calling me these pronouns? This name?’ And they were like, ‘Yeah, sure,’” Ortiz, now a high school senior, recalled Tuesday. After waiting to get used to the change, Ortiz […]
The 2023 parental rights bills, compared
Republicans in the Legislature are pursuing two bills focused on parental rights in schools this year – and putting significant political effort into passing them. But while both the House and the Senate have their own versions, the two bills have some major differences. Here’s what you need to know about where the two bills […]
Department of Education requests new power: subpoenas for teachers
When the New Hampshire Department of Education investigates a teacher for a potential code of conduct violation, they send a notice in the mail. Under a new proposed law, that teacher could also be served a subpoena. The New Hampshire Department of Education is pushing to be given the power to subpoena teachers or school […]