Committee Summary for House Education Policy and Administration (02/20/2026)

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
HB1268 2026-0606H 00:08:33.303 - 9:09:39 AM	Public Hearing	modifying definitions and requirements relative to home education programs.	Noble, Kristin(R)[A+]2025
CACR24 03:33:30.017 - 12:34:36 PM	Public Hearing	relating to the right to educate children. Providing that parents and guardians have a right to direct the education of their children.	Granger, Michael(R)[A+]2025

HB1268 2026-0606H: Representative Kristen Noble, Hillsborough District 2, Bedford Support00:08:33.303 - 9:09:39 AM; Representative Noble introduces the amendment as a response to concerns that Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs) under 194F could lead to increased government intervention in traditional unfunded home education under 193A. She aims to create clear separation by removing all regulations from 193A, making notification optional except for accessing public programs, annual evaluations voluntary, and adding protections against DCYF involvement, such as presuming home education is not neglect, prohibiting home inspections without warrants, protecting against bad faith reports, restricting information sharing without consent, and eliminating educational neglect as a factor in neglect determinations. She explains changes to simplify language, affirm parental rights, ensure equal access to public resources upon request, protect student privacy, and provide optional certificates of completion. She notes ongoing refinements with stakeholders, including for children with disabilities, and emphasizes that parents remain in control.
HB1268 2026-0606H: Representative Alessandra Rodriguez Murray, Hillsborough District 20, Manchester Ward 9 Oppose00:23:33.303 - 9:24:39 AM; Representative Murray shares her personal experience of being homeschooled in New Hampshire from pre-K through high school, initially positive but derailed at age 12 due to her family's church beliefs that restricted women's opportunities, leading her to focus on homemaking instead of education. She describes the lack of oversight, including no standardized testing, transcripts, or guidance, which created significant barriers when she decided to pursue college at 18, delaying her start until age 24 and graduation at 31. She emphasizes that while she supports parental rights, children also have rights to preparation for adulthood, and minimal accountability could prevent such outcomes. During questions, she suggests annual meetings with guidance counselors to inform students of options independently of parents.
HB1268 2026-0606H: Representative Granger Support00:30:00.000 - 9:31:06 AM; Representative Granger provides a brief testimony, joking about Texas in the context of education levels required for state representatives and noting that short speeches are fine, implying support for flexible education paths without overemphasis on formal higher education.
HB1268 2026-0606H: Representative NATO Support00:35:00.000 - 9:36:06 AM; Representative NATO expresses full support for parental rights in guiding children's education, citing a recent homeschool graduation where graduates pursued careers like attorneys and doctors. He argues against mandating higher education promotion in law, as individuals can pursue it independently, and notes the bill includes provisions for graduation certificates. During questions, he inquires about ensuring homeschool students know higher education options without forcing college advertising.
HB1268 2026-0606H: J.R. Hall, Dunbarton Support00:38:33.303 - 9:39:39 AM; J.R. Hall, a homeschool father since 2003 with children who have successfully graduated college, supports the bill, amendment, and further amendments for making homeschooling easier and more parent-friendly. He highlights the shift from education to mere attendance requirements in public schools, cites poor proficiency rates in Manchester public schools (e.g., 1 in 4 proficient in English), and argues DCYF should focus on failing institutions rather than families, noting a 95% failure rate in education neglect cases against homeschoolers. He shares a personal DCYF encounter that was unfounded and another example of overreach, advocating for presuming innocence in home education.
HB1268 2026-0606H: Catherine Abbott, Portsmouth Support00:53:33.303 - 9:54:39 AM; Catherine Abbott, a 193A unfunded home educator, supports the bill, arguing that public schools do not guarantee safety as abuse occurs there too. She asserts the parental right to home educate is fundamental, not government-granted, and compares it to First Amendment rights—freedom requires responsibility, and laws do not ensure compliance but should not trample innocents. She views the bill as placing the state in a supportive role to parents as primary educators, and notes that existing laws were in place during Representative Murray's homeschooling, so parental failure was not due to lack of regulation.
HB1268 2026-0606H: Amanda Whedon, home education advocate Information Only00:58:00.000 - 9:59:06 AM; Amanda Whedon, a veteran home educator and leader in organizations like Granite State Home Educators, is neutral on the bill as amended but recommends further amendments with stakeholder input. She supports minimizing government role in parental decisions but warns the bill creates procedural issues and legal risks for truancy and neglect accusations by not aligning with other statutes like compulsory attendance and DCYF procedures. She criticizes the process of sweeping changes without broad consent from diverse homeschoolers, urges listening to all voices including moderates, and suggests more collaboration, such as info sessions and events, to refine the bill before passage.
HB1268 2026-0606H: Mary Beth Wadlinger, Wolfeboro Support01:08:33.303 - 10:09:39 AM; Mary Beth Wadlinger, a veteran homeschool parent from Wolfeboro, testified in support of HB 1268 with amendment 0606H. She highlighted the benefits of the current RSA 193A law recognizing home education as a lawful alternative but argued that the premise of it being merely an alternative is faulty. She advocated for encoding protections of the natural right to family-based education by reducing government mandated reporting and supervision. Wadlinger referenced the Ninth Amendment to affirm that parents' right to direct their children's moral and intellectual upbringing is inalienable and pre-exists government. She emphasized that the family is the default for education, with no need for reporting, and urged adding strong natural law language to make the bill 'rock solid.'
HB1268 2026-0606H: Deborah Sullivan, home educator Oppose01:15:00.000 - 10:16:06 AM; Deborah Sullivan, a home educator, opposed HB 1268 as amended with 0606H. She argued that the bill's optional notification provision lacks privacy options, unlike the current system where notifications to participating agencies are private. She noted that without changes to compulsory education law, home educators still face DCYF investigations and need documentation. Sullivan criticized the optional state-issued certificates as encouraging reliance on the state for validation, suggesting post-secondary entities should deal directly with parents. She viewed suing for unsubstantiated DCYF accusations as impractical for average families and, as a non-statist, wanted government out of education but deemed the bill too dangerous without compulsory ed changes, preferring to retain the current notification system.
HB1268 2026-0606H: Nicole Hanfield, Wolfeboro Support01:23:33.303 - 10:24:39 AM; Nicole Hanfield, a 193A homeschool mother from Wolfeboro and refugee from Maryland, testified in support of the bill's direction but suggested improvements. She shared her negative experience with CPS in Maryland and appreciated the anti-coercion Fourth Amendment protection. However, she criticized the amendment for dividing children into subsets, particularly special needs children, and offered better language options to protect their dignity. Hanfield opposed the state issuing secondary certificates, preferring simple acknowledgment of parent certificates. She argued that notifications declare pathway choices like other parents and provide documentation against truancy or DCYF investigations. While appreciating protective sections 6-7, she noted they are already law or unaffordable, and questioned HSLDA's endorsement. Overall, she liked the movement toward improvement and planned to email detailed suggestions.
HB1268 2026-0606H: Honorable Alicia Lekas Support01:38:33.303 - 10:39:39 AM; Honorable Alicia Lekas testified in strong support of HB 1268 and the amendment, thrilled by its removal of burdensome issues for homeschoolers. As an educator of homeschool kids, she hears parents' complaints about current requirements and believes the bill addresses them effectively. She trusted the committee to refine wording based on input and had no specific suggestions, emphasizing that laws should help dedicated parents who go above and beyond without hindering them. Lekas argued that not declaring homeschooling avoids targeting but supported the bill's protections.
HB1268 2026-0606H: Angela Kantz, homeschooler Support01:45:00.000 - 10:46:06 AM; Angela Kantz, a 10-year New Hampshire resident who homeschools four children (two graduated to college), expressed personal opinions in tentative support of the amendment to HB 1268. She had no issues with current 193A law, successfully self-certifying completions and participating in school sports without problems. She helped new families comply and resolved a minor district error via HEAC. Hesitant about wide changes, she respected the current law's balance of notification without approval or submission requirements. However, recognizing needs for greater protection amid EFA confusion and natural rights clarification from legislators and HSLDA, she would support if it affords those protections. Kantz noted the bill clarifies pathways without mandating portfolios or assessments, which she maintains anyway, hoping it continues safeguarding homeschool rights.
HB1268 2026-0606H: Diane Nolan, Windham Support01:50:00.000 - 10:51:06 AM; Diane Nolan, educating under RSA 193A for over 20 years in Windham, supported the bill for enhancing RSA 193A home educators' rights. She calculated her family saved the state $720,000 (using $20,000 per pupil for 3 children over 12 years) and statewide, 3,400 home-educated students save over $1 billion over 12 years or $92 million annually. Nolan emphasized homeschoolers bear full costs voluntarily, yielding impressive results, and shared success stories of graduates like Ashley (4.0 GPA, pursuing master's) and Michael (full scholarship to UNH). She valued the freedom as a fundamental parental right, expecting the final bill to provide necessary protections.
HB1268 2026-0606H: Tara Elly, homeschooling mom Support01:55:00.000 - 10:56:06 AM; Tara Elly, mom of three (two homeschooling, one in high school), supported HB 1268 and the amendment for providing clarity and security to homeschool families. She submitted detailed testimony suggesting strengthening language to ensure lawful homeschooling satisfies compulsory requirements, prevents homeschool status from triggering investigations, avoids importing public school regulations, protects privacy, and presumes parental compliance unless proven otherwise. Elly stressed stability, reducing bureaucracy while reinforcing trust, parental authority in certification, and the natural right to educate children, with the burden on the state to disprove education.
HB1268 2026-0606H: Walter Ellie, Madbury Support02:08:33.303 - 11:09:39 AM; Walter Ellie, a dedicated home educator from Madbury, supported the intent of HB 1268, the amendment, and amendment to the amendment. He echoed testimonies from Mrs. Mertz, Ms. Whedon, and the Maryland refugee, noting benefactors evade government while communities detect abuse. He advocated for protections against overreach, particularly regarding special needs children and access to public services, questioning if bill language might limit options but emphasizing the need for tight legislation to prevent misuse of homeschooling in abuse cases.
HB1268 2026-0606H: Attorney Hewitt Support02:23:33.303 - 11:24:39 AM; Attorney Hewitt responds to questions during the hearing. He cautions against relying on state agencies for enforcement due to potential ideological biases, advocating for crowdsourced enforcement. He clarifies that in Connecticut, homeschool notification is voluntary, not mandatory, and families generally comply. He addresses concerns about child vulnerabilities, emphasizing the stark difference between legal requirements and normal practices. Regarding proposed amendment language, he explains that reports motivated solely by home education participation include mental state requirements, which are routine in law and can be inferred from evidence. On liability, he argues for consequences to protect homeschool families from unfounded reports, whether personal or agency-based. He notes no overlap with mandatory reporting laws due to the requirement for articulable facts of abuse. Finally, he supports rearticulating constitutional protections in statute for redundancy and addresses West Virginia's home visit triggers, affirming statutory prohibitions prevent court challenges.
HB1268 2026-0606H: Melissa Blossick, Rebuild NH Support02:38:33.303 - 11:39:39 AM; Melissa Blossick, representing Rebuild NH and a longtime homeschooler since 1998, supports the bill. She highlights that current truancy laws (RSA 189:35A and RSA 193:1) already exempt homeschoolers from attendance requirements. She asserts that the current working amendment provides greater protections for parents than existing law, emphasizing the importance of supporting families' choice in education without bureaucratic reporting.
HB1268 2026-0606H: Lakshmi Support02:50:00.000 - 11:51:06 AM; Lakshmi, a new homeschooler, shares her distressing experience starting home education last year. Despite notifying the school district via email, she was deemed not allowed to homeschool, leading to DCYF involvement, charges of child neglect, removal from her home, and separation from her children for five months. She disputes school evaluations, noting her child's mild lag due to COVID's unstimulating environment, a widespread issue affecting both homeschooled and public school children, as evidenced by news reports on educational declines nationwide. She criticizes rigid bucketing of children into diagnoses like autism or ADHD without considering individual differences and COVID impacts. Lakshmi supports clear parental rights, emphasizing parents' primary interest in their children's welfare. She suggests allowing flexible education models, such as combining homeschooling with private schools or partial attendance, and permitting parents to choose services for disabled children without mandating public school enrollment. She notes the increase in reported disabilities is likely COVID-related, not a true rise.
HB1268 2026-0606H: Representative Representative Erica Layon Rockingham - District 13 Support03:20:00.000 - 12:21:06 PM; Representative Erica Leon from Derry (Rockingham 13) supports the bill, moved by Lakshmi's testimony. She stresses the need for clear, limited processes to prevent interference with parents prioritizing their children. She shares her homeschool co-op experience where a special needs child, previously underserved in public school, now thrives learning about planes with peers, developing math and science skills through passions. She advocates empowering parents to foster lifelong learning tailored to children's needs, protecting special education students from being pulled back into inadequate public systems.
CACR24: Representative Grainger Support03:33:30.017 - 12:34:36 PM; Prime sponsor Representative Grainger urges support for CACR 24, which codifies parents' enduring love and right to direct their children's education into the New Hampshire Constitution. He argues it protects families from future interferences across homeschooling, private schooling, and family-directed learning, providing long-term security amid changing political landscapes, elections, and societal shifts. The amendment ensures parental choice in curriculum and methods remains protected for generations.
CACR24: Attorney Ralph Rodriguez, Homeschool Legal Defense Association Support03:38:00.000 - 12:39:06 PM; Attorney Ralph Rodriguez from HSLDA testifies in support of CACR 24, affirming parents' fundamental right to direct their children's education and upbringing, rooted in U.S. Supreme Court precedents like Pierce v. Society of Sisters and Meyer v. Nebraska, natural law, and international human rights such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He emphasizes that the amendment recognizes an existing right, providing constitutional clarity, stability, and protection against state overreach in education, health, and child-rearing decisions. During Q&A, he explains it elevates the right to fundamental status, promoting New Hampshire as a pioneer while current laws address neglectful parents.
CACR24: Colleen Palmer, Belmont Support03:43:00.000 - 12:44:06 PM; Colleen Palmer from Belmont supports CACR 24, critiquing compulsory education's poor outcomes over the past century, including societal declines in health, arts, and personal development. Drawing from biblical wisdom, she argues parents, knowing their children holistically, are best positioned to define and measure success and thriving. She views the amendment as recognizing this natural right, with neglect addressed by other laws, safeguarding against bureaucratic and cultural influences on curricula. In Q&A, she cites personal observations, family experiences, and national trends showing public school failures in fostering joy, skills, music, and physical activity.
CACR24: Melissa Blasek, Rebuild NH Support03:48:30.017 - 12:49:36 PM; Melissa Blasek from Rebuild NH supports CACR 24, which affirms parents and guardians' right to direct their children's education across public, private, homeschooling, or other settings. She underscores parents as children's primary teachers, filling a constitutional gap to provide clarity, security, and protection against overriding laws or policies without justification.
CACR24: Doris Elhenzi Support03:52:00.000 - 12:53:06 PM; Doris Elhenzi supports CACR 24's intent to protect parental rights in education but recommends amendments for clarity and legal strength. She suggests simplifying to: 'Parental rights in education: parents being the primary educators of their children, their right to direct their children's education shall not be infringed.' This uses established 'infringed' precedent over 'violated' for a lower threshold, removes redundancy, omits 'legal guardian' as inherent, and declares the right as pre-existing and inherent for strict judicial protection, avoiding government-granted implications.

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