Committee Summary for House Education Policy and Administration (02/09/2026)

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
HB1331 00:01:06.479 - 9:00:57 AM	Public Hearing	enabling the town of Derry to absorb the Derry cooperative school district.	Layon, Erica(R)[A+]2025
HB1374 00:34:18.480 - 9:34:09 AM	Public Hearing	relative to the procedures for withdrawal from a cooperative school district.	Murphy, Mary(R)[B+]2025
HB1644 01:09:45.679 - 10:09:36 AM	Public Hearing	permitting towns to unilaterally withdraw from a cooperative school district.	McGuire, Dan(R)[A]2025
HB1191 03:00:22.000 - 12:00:13 PM	Public Hearing	relative to parental notice for non-academic surveys in public schools.	Litchfield, Melissa(R)[B+]2025
HB1688 03:30:51.120 - 12:30:42 PM	Public Hearing	expanding the circumstances where the restraint is permitted in schools and treatment facilities and modifying the definition of seclusion.	Drago, Mike(R)[A-]2025
HB1183 05:22:18.080 - 2:22:09 PM	Executive Session	relative to the mathematics requirement for high school graduation.	Ladd, Rick(R)[B+]2025
CACR28 05:26:43.520 - 2:26:34 PM	Executive Session	relating to morality and piety. Providing that town, parishes, bodies corporate, or religious societies may elect and contract with teachers.	Soti, Julius(R)[A+]2025
HB1829 05:31:05.120 - 2:30:56 PM	Executive Session	modifying the definition of persistently dangerous schools.	Litchfield, Melissa(R)[B+]2025
Unclear 05:34:01.680 - 2:33:52 PM	General Working Session	Unclear

HB1331: Representative Representative Erica Layon Rockingham - District 13 Support00:01:06.479 - 9:00:57 AM; Representative Leon introduced the bill, explaining that Derry is a large municipality with opportunities to streamline operations between the town and school district. She noted existing collaborations and proposed amending the town charter to incorporate the school district as a town department, mirroring Manchester's 2019 process. The amendment would allow local control over budget preparation while keeping educational decisions with specialists. She emphasized maximizing local control in Derry's compact 36-square-mile area with overlapping facilities and human resources.
HB1331: Representative John Patu, Derry Support00:07:14.800 - 9:07:05 AM; Representative Patu expressed support based on his long involvement in Derry's financial matters since 1976. He highlighted rising taxes and declining school grades despite increasing budgets. As a former teacher, he praised the teachers but criticized the mismanagement of funds. He advocated integrating the school district under the town charter to apply the town's tax cap, which currently does not bind the school. He also mentioned Derry's unique situation with Pinkerton Academy, where the budget is non-negotiable, and urged the committee to pass the bill for a town vote.
HB1331: Brian Cherichello, Derry Support00:11:52.480 - 9:11:43 AM; Brian Cherichello, a former Derry town councilor, state representative, and Rockingham County Commissioner, testified in support of HB 1331. He explained Derry's unique town council form of government, which operates like a city with full control over town budgets under a tax cap since the early 1990s. In contrast, the Derry school district uses an SB2 system with low attendance at deliberative sessions, leading to confusion among residents about tax increases. He argued that integrating the school district under town control would consolidate governance, improve education on budgeting, and allow tying the school budget to the tax cap, similar to Manchester and Nashua. Cherichello emphasized that the bill lets voters decide via ballot, promoting fairness and better stewardship of taxpayer money. He addressed concerns about the school board's role, likening it to a department under town oversight, and highlighted issues with low voter turnout and perceived lack of influence in school budgeting.
HB1331: Megan Tuttle, President of NEA New Hampshire Oppose00:25:09.440 - 9:25:00 AM; Megan Tuttle, president of NEA New Hampshire representing 16,000-17,000 educators including the Derry Education Association, testified in opposition to HB 1331 on the original bill. As an 18-year veteran teacher, she argued that absorbing the school district into town government would harm the community and students. School board responsibilities differ vastly from town issues like public works, police, and fire, involving dynamic state mandates on curriculum and student wellness. She stressed maintaining local control, noting Derry voters previously rejected merging the district. Tuttle asserted that schools are not just a municipal department but a core public trust requiring focused leadership. Imposing changes undermines democratic principles and New Hampshire's tradition of local education control. She urged finding the bill inexpedient to legislate and offered to provide details on the prior vote.
HB1331: Unnamed Speaker Information Only00:28:29.120 - 9:28:20 AM; An unnamed speaker provided information on a 2018 non-binding town ballot question in Derry asking if voters favored petitioning the state to include the school district as a town department, requiring compliance with the tax cap if authorized. The vote passed 597 in favor to 547 opposed, indicating public support for the concept in HB 1331. They explained challenges in cooperative school districts, where petitioning for warrant articles requires more signatures than typical voter turnout, silencing town voices without costly outreach like postcards. This measure passed on the town ballot, highlighting the need for the bill to enable broader participation.
HB1374: Representative Mary Murphy, Hillsborough 27 (Deering and Francestown) Support00:34:18.480 - 9:34:09 AM; Representative Murphy introduces HB 1374, explaining that withdrawing from cooperative school districts is difficult due to lack of exit clauses. The bill eliminates the requirement for approval from other cooperative towns, retaining state board feasibility studies and increasing the withdrawing town's vote to supermajority for student protection. She highlights its nonpartisan nature, impact on 50% of NH towns, and fairness for parental rights and student well-being. She cites Francestown's thwarted 81% approval withdrawal due to other towns' votes, emphasizing focus on students' best interests.
HB1374: Curtis Hamilton, Greenfield, ConVal School Board Oppose00:41:18.720 - 9:41:09 AM; Hamilton opposes HB 1374, arguing it unbalances freedoms by allowing unilateral withdrawal without remaining towns' consent, destabilizing cooperatives. He stresses cooperatives as shared governance, not contracts, and the district-wide vote as a safeguard against financial and operational harm. Withdrawal imposes new multi-district SAU structures with added costs for duplicated services. He urges retaining the vote to protect shared obligations and long-term planning.
HB1374: Barrett Christensen, New Hampshire School Boards Association Oppose00:50:38.079 - 9:50:29 AM; Christensen opposes HB 1374 (and HB 1644), noting NHSBA helped write current RSA 195 provisions for balanced withdrawal processes. He details the three voter approval steps and argues unilateral withdrawal ignores original cooperative agreements from decades ago. It increases administrative costs (e.g., duplicate budgets, bargaining, meetings) and contradicts consolidation efforts like SB 57. He cites successful recent withdrawals under current law (e.g., Lisbon 2025) and suggests periodic article reviews or standardized formulas instead. Emphasizes co-ops' historical incentives like state building aid.
HB1644: Representative Dan McGuire, Epsom Support01:09:45.679 - 10:09:36 AM; McGuire introduces HB 1644, similar to HB 1374 but with procedural improvements: requires three-fifths vote to initiate withdrawal (vs. majority), removes committee's veto on report submission, and bases final approval solely on withdrawing town's three-fifths vote, bypassing other towns. He notes it addresses bottlenecks, uses divorce analogy for motivation, and suggests amendments for property disposition fairness and avoiding unnecessary district-wide votes. Acknowledges bills couldn't be combined due to timing.
HB1644: Curtis Hamilton, Greenfield, ConVal School Board Oppose01:18:17.280 - 10:18:08 AM; Hamilton opposes HB 1644, reiterating concerns about removing remaining districts' voice. He critiques changes: inconsistent terminology, mismatched thresholds for school board vs. district initiation, added burdens for minority reports, and forcing committees to submit withdrawal plans even if they recommend against or need more time (e.g., Temple case). Argues current process is navigable despite complexity; shares experience chairing four committees in two years, highlighting frequent withdrawal attempts in ConVal.
HB1191: Representative Blaska (Prime Sponsor) Information Only03:00:22.000 - 12:00:13 PM; The prime sponsor announced that HB 1191 has been withdrawn by him and all co-sponsors.
HB1191: Barbara Slayton, Franklin School District Information Only03:04:57.520 - 12:04:48 PM; Barbara Slayton from the Franklin School District provided detailed information on the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) implementation, emphasizing existing privacy protections, parental notification via emails and website postings, opt-out options, and student choice to skip questions. She explained that an opt-in requirement would likely result in low participation rates, making the survey unusable and depriving districts of valuable data for prevention and intervention. She shared examples of low return rates for opt-in forms and how the data has informed partnerships, such as with Thrive for domestic violence support, and curriculum adjustments for mental health and sexual violence prevention. In 2023, only two parents opted out of 270 students, and 15% of present students chose not to participate.
HB1191: Kate Fry, New Futures Oppose03:18:15.520 - 12:18:06 PM; Kate Fry, vice president of advocacy at New Futures, opposed HB 1191, stating it weakens prevention and treatment systems by limiting access to essential YRBS data for youth safety and wellness policies. She appreciated the bill's withdrawal and noted the current statute balances parental interests with maximizing participation.
HB1191: Holly Stevens, NAMI New Hampshire Support03:19:22.479 - 12:19:13 PM; Holly Stevens, director of public policy at NAMI New Hampshire, opposed the bill and supported its withdrawal. She highlighted the critical role of YRBS in understanding youth mental health challenges, such as suicide being the leading cause of death for 10-14 year olds and second for 15-24 year olds. The survey identifies high-risk schools for targeted programs like NAMI's youth leader and suicide prevention training. She presented data showing 40% of students felt sad/hopeless and 21% considered suicide in 2023, with a 4% decrease from 2021, underscoring the importance of biennial trends. Participation was 65% in recent years, close to the 60% threshold, and opt-in could jeopardize this.
HB1688: Representative Mike Drago, Raymond Support03:30:51.120 - 12:30:42 PM; Representative Mike Drago introduced HB 1688, explaining its origins from concerns raised by school staff in Raymond about assaults, such as bites and stabbings, where untrained teachers could not intervene due to strict RSA interpretations requiring 'substantial and imminent risk' of serious bodily harm. He proposed lowering the threshold to 'risk of harm' to allow staff to defend themselves without excessive force. On seclusion, he criticized the 'voluntary' definition, which leads to removing well-behaved students to the library while disruptors remain, halting education for many. He advocated changing it to 'involuntary' to remove disruptive students, ensuring the majority can learn uninterrupted. He noted similar issues statewide and suggested better DOE guidance as an alternative.
HB1688: Nicole Sheie, Exeter Oppose03:45:43.120 - 12:45:34 PM; Nicole Sheie, a licensed occupational therapist and mother of four children who experienced restraint and seclusion before age nine, opposes the amendment to HB 1688. She shares personal stories of her children's traumatic experiences in schools, including her 13-year-old daughter who was restrained in third grade for hiding behind a desk due to sensory overload. Despite high functioning, her children have been diagnosed with PTSD from these incidents. She argues that children's behaviors signal unmet needs, especially for those with IEPs, sensory processing issues, or autism, and stresses the importance of training educators to understand and address these needs rather than resorting to restraint and seclusion. She compares adult stress responses to children's underdeveloped brains, urging the committee to vote no on the amendment and invest in education and support.
HB1688: Michael Skiby, Keene Oppose03:54:22.960 - 12:54:13 PM; Michael Skiby, former policy director at the Disability Rights Center, opposes HB 1688, arguing it removes protections in Chapter 126-U enacted in 2010 to address serious injuries from restraint and seclusion in schools and facilities. He details the history, including reports of broken bones, dislocated shoulders, and a child's facial injuries at the Crotched Mountain Center, leading to extensive legislative collaboration. The bill undermines the balance by modifying the seclusion definition to exclude voluntary separation, removing parental notification requirements, and lowering the restraint threshold from substantial risk of serious bodily harm to any risk of minor harm, potentially increasing injuries and trauma. He clarifies that current law allows escorting disruptive children without restraint and emphasizes the need for better training on permitted actions. In response to a question, he supports investing in training and alternative strategies like multi-tiered systems of support to prevent escalations.
HB1688: Unnamed Witness (likely Jane Berio) Information Only04:08:38.479 - 1:08:29 PM; The witness continues testimony on pilot projects showing decreased discipline through careful study, emphasizing reduced disruptions and physical interactions. Responds to questions from Representative Pedo on terminology of voluntary vs. involuntary separation, clarifying that the law permits voluntary agreements or involuntary escorts without requiring classroom evacuation. Addresses concerns on practices vs. statutory requirements, suggesting risk aversion among educators leads to over-restriction. Discusses protections for substantial or serious bodily harm, including self-defense options, and the allowance for removal of disruptive children without restraint reporting. Explains that minor distractions like ripping paper can warrant removal but not extreme measures like isolation boxes. Clarifies that reported seclusions involved inadequate spaces, not simple offices, and highlights the 2023 amendment allowing involuntary confinement with therapeutic intervention. Notes historical additions like prohibiting prone restraint and suggests improving Department of Education advisories and training over expanding restraint opportunities.
HB1688: Jane Berseron Bullyu, Executive Director, New Hampshire Association of Special Education Administrators Oppose04:26:49.359 - 1:26:40 PM; Represents over 300 special education leaders opposing the bill, arguing it would revert protections for vulnerable children with IEPs. Notes districts' collaboration with Department of Education and DHHS on policies, training, and documentation, with ongoing updates to technical assistance despite delays. Highlights challenges in staff turnover and funding for training, stressing the need for de-escalation strategies and interventions like multi-tiered systems of support to prevent escalations. Urges policymakers to consider these factors and oppose the bill.
HB1688: Karen Rosenberg, Policy Director, Disability Rights Center Oppose04:33:35.279 - 1:33:26 PM; Builds on prior testimony, focusing on the 2023 amendment to seclusion definitions allowing involuntary confinement with therapeutic intervention to address disruptions without full seclusion. Shares experience representing children in education matters, noting restraints often affect elementary-aged children at high risk of harm. Emphasizes 'all behavior is communication,' sharing a case of a 5-year-old restrained due to unmet needs for physical contact, resolved via functional behavioral assessment and simple interventions like hugs via a buzzer device, eliminating restraints. Advocates for tools like behaviorists and MTSS over physical interventions, clarifying distinctions between serious bodily harm for restraints vs. lower thresholds for escorts. Explains notification requirements for serious injuries and cautions against lowering standards, as restraints can traumatize and fail to remediate behavior. Addresses concerns on harm to self or others, self-defense, and examples like fights or calming holds as non-restraints.
HB1688: Becky Wilson, Director of Governmental Relations, New Hampshire School Boards Association Information Only05:02:45.200 - 2:02:36 PM; Provides neutral technical assistance based on background in special education and teaching students with emotional behavioral disorders. Details 2023 Department of Education guidance documents on restraint/seclusion changes and reporting from SB 179 and HB 491. Mentions HB 653 study commission on alternatives, applicable beyond public schools to various child facilities. Stresses de-escalation training, behavior as communication, and restraint/seclusion as last resorts after interventions, with extensive documentation (20-page forms). Notes public reporting by school, potential over-reporting to communicate needs, and IEP reviews for frequent cases. Advocates changing adult behaviors in support plans over punishing children, emphasizing proactive multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) for school-wide patterns and individual needs, allowing inclusion without frequent removals.
HB1688: Holly Stevens, Director of Public Policy, NAMI New Hampshire Oppose05:14:48.320 - 2:14:39 PM; Opposes loosening definitions due to psychological trauma from restraints/seclusions and disproportionate use on children with disabilities, including mental health conditions. Draws from experience as a crisis clinician at Hampton Hospital, describing dangerous two-person restraints on large children that injured staff, including herself. Warns that expanding use could open floodgates, increasing harm without addressing root causes, and exacerbating trauma for children with ACEs or PTSD.
HB1183: Representative Cornell Oppose05:22:18.080 - 2:22:09 PM; Moved to ITL the bill. Reasons include it being an unfunded mandate requiring hiring more math teachers or doubling up classes; difficulty for career and technical school students to take a fourth math without accepting embedded credits; and removal of local control.
HB1183: Unidentified Representative (Second) Oppose05:22:18.080 - 2:22:09 PM; As a former math teacher, promotes teaching math but believes mathematics is present in trades like construction, which should count as math credits. Not everyone is suited for traditional math, and they can learn it differently. Will vote to ITL.
HB1183: Representative Celig Oppose05:23:30.718 - 2:23:21 PM; Agrees with the motion, citing her child's baking course that incorporated significant functional math taught by a chef, which wouldn't fit under the bill's requirements.
HB1183: Representative Hall Oppose05:23:30.718 - 2:23:21 PM; Supports local control; some schools may choose four math classes if it suits their students, but it should be optional.
HB1183: Representative Dry Support05:24:28.560 - 2:24:19 PM; Will vote no on ITL because the bill could be amended to allow embedded math credits under the 'shall have four classes' language; believes it's premature to kill the bill.
HB1183: Committee Clerk Information Only05:24:28.560 - 2:24:19 PM; Called the roll: 13 yes votes for ITL, 2 no (Representatives Dry and Lichfield). Motion passes.
CACR28: Representative Belchure Oppose05:26:43.520 - 2:26:34 PM; Moved to ITL. Acknowledges the bill's complexity and sympathies for concerns like taxation authority and amending processes, but the proposed solution creates more problems, including constitutional conflicts if reverting to original language. Inserting state into church affairs with taxation is problematic and detrimental. Suggests a targeted constitutional amendment to solve issues without regressing.
CACR28: Unidentified Representative (Second) Oppose05:26:43.520 - 2:26:34 PM; Fascinated by testimony but echoes concerns; while a problem is identified, the solution creates many more unaddressable issues in a CACR. Warrants further investigation and discussion; will support ITL.
CACR28: Committee Clerk Information Only05:29:03.200 - 2:28:54 PM; Called the roll: 14 yes votes for ITL, 1 no (Representative Dry). Motion passes.
HB1829: Representative Pinterell Oppose05:31:05.120 - 2:30:56 PM; Moved to ITL. Researched the bill's origin from a Department of Education advisory, but learned definitions need LEA review first. The concept stems from No Child Left Behind for reporting; cannot eliminate as it's needed. Thus, ITL is appropriate.
HB1829: Unidentified Representative (Second) Information Only05:31:05.120 - 2:30:56 PM; No discussion from the second.
HB1829: Committee Clerk Information Only05:32:12.160 - 2:32:03 PM; Called the roll: 15 yes votes for ITL, 0 no. Motion passes.
Unclear: Unidentified Representative Information Only05:34:01.680 - 2:33:52 PM; Informed Chairman Nova that the second report was resent over lunch and should now be received.

Noble, Kristin(Chairman)(R)[A+]2025	Drye, Margaret(Clerk)(R)[B+]2025	Peternel, Katy(V Chairman)(R)[A]2025
Cornell, Patricia(D)[F]2025	Freeman, Lisa(R)[B+]2025	Belcher, Mike(R)[B+]2025
Hall, Muriel(D)[CT]2025	Terry, Paul(R)[B+]2025	McDonnell, Valerie(R)[B+]2025
Selig, Loren(D)[D-]2025	Balboni, Peggy(D)[CT]2025	Murray, Megan(D)[CT]2025
Tenczar, Jeffrey(R)[B+]2025	Litchfield, Melissa(R)[B+]2025	Woodcock, Stephen(D)[F]2025
Kluger, Lee Ann(D)[F]2025	Snodgrass, Jim(D)[F]2025	Nadeau, Brian(R)[B+]2025