Warning: Bill numbers and names are based on text-to-speech transcript which may have errors due to transcription issues or ad hoc/incomplete language use by committee.
Representative Ladd introduces the non-germane amendment to SB 491, explaining it strikes references to curriculum frameworks and replaces them with academic standards to reduce confusion in education rules following ED 306 changes. He discusses the need for clear, up-to-date academic standards across subjects like arts, health, social studies, math, science, and personal finance literacy. Ladd highlights issues with current standards, such as outdated math leading to remedial needs in college, and emphasizes alignment of curriculum, instruction, and assessment. He shares experiences from his principal days in Alaska on improving math achievement through structured teaching and professional development. Ladd supports leadership from the Department of Education to review and update standards but notes budget constraints for new positions.
SB491 1441H
Information Only00:42:21.628 - 10:40:42 AM
Nate Green, Division Director at the New Hampshire Department of Education, describes the amendment as a cleanup to clarify terminology, noting that curriculum frameworks are essentially academic standards adopted as regulations in ED 306. He assures that this does not change policy but resolves naming confusion and maintains the Statewide Education Improvement and Assessment Program Legislative Oversight Committee's authority. Green explains the review process for standards every 10 years, involving teachers and curriculum administrators from the field to ensure they reflect what students should know and be able to do. He addresses questions on fiscal notes, stating no additional cost from this amendment alone, and outlines facilities requirements relying on local enforcement for safety and health.
SB531 1569H
Information Only00:50:46.032 - 10:49:07 AM
Representative Ladd introduces the non-germane amendment to SB 531, requiring school districts and charter schools to report annual student meal debt from USDA meal programs, excluding a la carte items. He explains the purpose is to track debt scope, as districts incur significant costs chasing unpaid meals, sometimes involving attorneys. Ladd notes discussions with the Commissioner and Kelly Rambo on free and reduced meal program debts, citing examples like over $100,000 in one district, to inform future policy on resolving this issue.
SB531 1569H
Information Only00:56:37.032 - 10:54:58 AM
Kelly Rambo, Bureau Administrator for Wellness and Nutrition, and Mark Manganiello, Bureau of School Finance, support the amendment as a starting point to collect data on meal debt from federal programs to understand the problem's scope for future policy. They clarify it covers debts from free, reduced-price, and paid meals, but not a la carte, to focus on core meals and ease compliance. The department lacks current statewide data, relying on voluntary reports, and notes districts use POS systems to track but may not separate categories. They discuss challenges like late FNR applications accruing debt, varying district policies, and the need for more detailed data to analyze systemic issues, suggesting potential thresholds for reporting to aid smaller districts.
SB531 1569H
Information Only01:16:37.385 - 11:14:58 AM
Responded to questions regarding policy decisions on writing off bad debt, tracking debts by student visible to parents for all enrolled students, handling partial payments and recoveries under local meal charging policies, reporting of debts for reduced price students, capabilities for deposits including cash and checks, collection of aggregate data without personally identifiable information, public availability of the data, and that determinations for free or reduced price meals are handled at the local level.
SB491 1441H, 1454H
Support02:05:34.212 - 12:03:55 PM
Made motion for Ought to Pass (OTP). Proposed amendment 1441H to replace 'curriculum frameworks' with 'academic standards' for consistency in definitions related to learning areas and courses. Supported amendment 1454H emphasizing the need for separate funding pots for tuition and transportation to avoid proration issues. Made final motion for Ought to Pass with Amendments (OTPA) with amendments 1441H and 1454H.
SB491 1441H, 1454H
Support02:07:30.492 - 12:05:51 PM
Supported amendment 1441H, noting it uses consistent terms and facilitates updates to standards that have not been revised in years.
SB491 1441H, 1454H
Support02:08:46.332 - 12:07:07 PM
Proposed amendment 1454H to simplify language by having the department determine tuition and transportation costs separately, as discussed earlier.
SB491 1441H, 1454H
Support02:11:14.092 - 12:09:35 PM
Inquired about the process for multiple amendments and confirmed they can be adopted, with OLS combining them into a committee amendment; stated in favor of both amendments.
SB513 1586H
Support02:15:23.381 - 12:13:44 PM
Made motion for OTP. Proposed amendment 1586H to revert language to require OPM upon accepting building aid grant, raise project cost threshold from $1.25 million to $2 million, insert optional hiring language from administrative rules, and prohibit OPM contractual ties to architects, engineers, or contractors to avoid conflicts of interest. Noted future need for school building aid funding as debt is paid down by 2040 and more projects anticipated.
SB513 1586H
Information Only02:19:06.481 - 12:17:27 PM
Appreciated the amendment details but raised concern that discussing requirements for school building aid is pointless without funding appropriation; agreed with the amendment as amended.
SB513 1586H
Vote02:23:01.460 - 12:21:22 PM
Roll call vote conducted with all members voting yes: Representative Burton, Representative Fellows, Representative Damon, Representative Rickey, Representative Chrétien, Representative Weinstein, and Chairman McGuire, among others, resulting in a 17-0 vote in favor. The motion carries.
SB531 2026-1704H
Information Only02:23:48.692 - 12:22:09 PM
After the previous vote, transitions to discussion on SB 531, asking if there is any discussion regarding section one on the cosmetology program task force.
SB531 2026-1704H
Oppose02:24:56.367 - 12:23:17 PM
Recalls initial support from the community college system but expresses concerns about the legislature directing community colleges on what and where to teach. Believes community college presidents and advisory boards should identify community needs independently. Supports the idea of cosmetology classes for licensure in a cost-effective way but opposes legislation as it sets a bad precedent and removes responsibility from college leadership. Encourages involved parties to implement it themselves without legislative involvement, specifically regarding section one.
SB531 2026-1704H
Oppose02:26:57.367 - 12:25:18 PM
Echoes Representative Luno's thoughts on avoiding legislative interference in community college programming decisions. Notes it took New Hampshire 20 years to establish its community college system after the rest of the country. As someone formerly in the industry, emphasizes the importance of separate boards making operating decisions and program placements. Highlights benefits of cosmetology programs at the college level, such as access to federal Pell Grants and support for small businesses. Concurs with opposition to section one and asks the chair about the chancellors' reactions during a previous meeting's 'freedom speech'.
SB531 2026-1704H
Information Only02:27:44.367 - 12:26:05 PM
Responds to Representative Burton, acknowledging the 'freedom speech'. Notes that chancellors expressed need for part two of the bill allowing programming on community college campuses but did not violently oppose the task force. Questions the necessity of a legislatively created task force, referencing a current non-legislator task force on state accountability from SB 378. Discusses past practices where programs were implemented without legislation and views it as an issue of control rather than bipartisanship. Sees no harm in the bill and notes strong bipartisan Senate sponsorship including Senators Waters, Perl, Rosenwald, Avard, Prentiss, Carson, and Rochefort.
SB531 2026-1704H
Information Only02:31:00.367 - 12:29:21 PM
Expresses confusion but views the bill as a bridge between CTE centers and community colleges for CTE courses at community colleges. Clarifies that the first part causing concern is the cosmetology task force.
SB531 2026-1704H
Support02:32:14.367 - 12:30:35 PM
States that the bill does not require the college to do anything; it merely creates a task force to study the issue and provide recommendations to the legislature or college. Emphasizes the clear need to investigate and that involving more people leads to better reports. Supports passing the bill.
SB531 2026-1704H
Oppose02:32:14.367 - 12:30:35 PM
Counters that more people on a project prolongs it and if everyone agrees it's good, no task force is needed. References experience in Massachusetts where community colleges accomplished more without political interference. Announces intent to vote against due to concerns over political involvement.
SB531 2026-1704H
Oppose02:33:15.367 - 12:31:36 PM
Agrees there is no need for section one, as it was evident from previous discussions that community colleges can implement cosmetology programming without statutory barriers.
SB531 2026-1704H
Support02:33:15.367 - 12:31:36 PM
Acknowledges significant interest in the bill. Indicates general support for section two and suggests an amendment to eliminate section one, retain section two and the non-germane portion, and remove the prospective repeal if section one is eliminated. Believes this could garner bipartisan support.
SB531 2026-1704H
Support02:44:29.667 - 12:42:50 PM
Moves for Ought to Pass (OTP) on SB 531. Introduces Amendment 2026-1704H, which combines two previously discussed amendments (one non-germane and one germane) with a minor addition of the word 'aggregate' on page two, line five, to ensure only aggregate data is reported for student privacy, reflecting hearing discussions. Notes the amendment also allows CTE centers to utilize USNH campuses in addition to CCSNH. Asks for support.
SB531 2024-1704h
Vote02:47:06.957 - 12:45:27 PM
Calls for a roll call vote on the main motion to approve SB 531 as amended with amendment 1704H. The roll call results in 9 yes votes (Representatives Noble, Weyer, Peternel, Colcombe, Popovich, Mahegan, Peoples, Clerk, Chairman Ladd) and 8 no votes (Representatives Leno, Ames, Burton, Fellows, Dann, Brickey, Chrétien, Weinstein), passing the motion 9-8.
SB531 2024-1704h
Oppose02:48:46.271 - 12:47:07 PM
Announces a minority report for an ought to pass as amended with a minority amendment, similar to amendment 1704H but deleting sections one and three, and renumbering sections appropriately. States the amendment will be delivered to the committee forthwith.
SB513
Information Only02:49:00.000 - 12:47:21 PM
Requests that bill SB 513 not be placed on the consent calendar but put on the regular calendar instead. States no plan to have a report on it, just wants it off the consent calendar.
Unclear
Information Only02:50:04.271 - 12:48:25 PM
Comments that PBAS has held listening sessions for the new way forward, noting the one attended in Concord was sparsely attended with 10 or 15 people but informative. Explains that the task force is tasked with designing and recommending a new system of accountability for public education, flexibility or alternative methods for nontraditional schools, and providing a final report to the legislature by June 30, 2026. Notes they are approaching that date and raises concern about recommending a new system without knowing what academic standards should look like.