Committee Summary for House Finance Division II (02/09/2026)

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
HB112 00:04:35.199 - 9:30:11 AM	Executive Session	(New TItle) requiring students in the university and community college systems of New Hampshire to pass the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services civics naturalization test, take a course that covers fundamental American documents as part of the general education curriculum, or pass a civics course competency test.	Moffett, Michael(R)[B+]2025
HB1399 00:12:50.399 - 9:38:26 AM	Executive Session	making an appropriation to the Claremont school district for costs associated with a building renovation project from the revenue stabilization reserve account.	Damon, Hope(D)[CT]2025

HB112: Representative McGuire Support00:04:35.199 - 9:30:11 AM; Moved ought to pass on HB112. Initially skeptical but changed view after hearing a college professor note that many students were unaware of state legislatures. Argued that the fiscal note for a similar high school requirement (HB320) was minimal, suggesting the current fiscal note reflects university opposition rather than real costs.
HB112: Representative Murray Oppose00:05:45.759 - 9:31:21 AM; Cannot support the bill as it dictates university curriculum, which she believes is inappropriate. Highlighted logistical challenges in tracking courses and years of graduation. Cited Governor Sununu's 2021 veto of a similar bill (HB319), noting it would set a precedent for future mandates and that high school civics requirements already cover most students.
HB112: Representative Kelly Oppose00:05:45.759 - 9:31:21 AM; Referenced Governor Sununu's veto message for HB319, emphasizing the importance of civics education but arguing that the high school requirement (HB320) already addresses it without the need for university mandates. Noted administrative costs for tracking out-of-state students and the slippery slope of legislative interference in higher education.
HB112: Representative McGuire Support00:09:21.440 - 9:34:57 AM; Responded to concerns about costs by noting HB320 had no fiscal note despite applying to all high schools. Argued universities have fewer in-state students needing the test, and the bill exempts those who passed it in high school, making the impact minimal.
HB112: Representative Murray Oppose00:09:21.440 - 9:34:57 AM; Questioned whether the lack of a fiscal note for HB320 meant no costs to schools and noted the scale difference between high schools and universities.
HB112: Senator (unidentified) Support00:10:25.920 - 9:36:01 AM; Pointed out high schools are larger than universities and not all high school students attend college. Estimated UNH is 50/50 in-state/out-of-state, while Plymouth and Keene are more in-state focused, reducing the number affected.
HB112: Representative Papovich Müller Support00:11:33.600 - 9:37:09 AM; Voted yes on ought to pass.
HB112: Representative Kofal Support00:11:33.600 - 9:37:09 AM; Voted yes on ought to pass.
HB112: Representative Wiler Support00:11:33.600 - 9:37:09 AM; Voted yes on ought to pass.
HB112: Clerk Vote00:11:33.600 - 9:37:09 AM; Voted yes on ought to pass.
HB112: Representative Murray Oppose00:11:33.600 - 9:37:09 AM; Voted no on ought to pass.
HB112: Representative Hawen Phillips Oppose00:11:33.600 - 9:37:09 AM; Voted no on ought to pass.
HB112: Representative Kelly Oppose00:11:33.600 - 9:37:09 AM; Voted no on ought to pass.
HB112: Chairman Support00:11:33.600 - 9:37:09 AM; Voted yes on ought to pass. Motion passed 5-3.
HB1399: Matt Angel, Business Administrator, Claremont School District Support00:12:50.399 - 9:38:26 AM; Presented a spreadsheet calculating assumed state aid at 60% for Claremont High School's 2014 construction during the building aid moratorium, totaling $6.7 million, or $100-150 per taxpayer annually based on a $300,000 home value. Explained the project was necessary to avoid losing accreditation, which would impact college admissions for students. Noted the district's preference for future participation in building aid to address liabilities, and plans to use any funds for contingency reserves, tax rate reduction, or board-approved spending after taxpayer input.
HB1399: Representative Murray Information Only00:17:49.440 - 9:43:25 AM; Expressed heartbreak over the situation, viewing it as reflective of broader state education policy issues. Suggested using this as an opportunity to reconsider education funding mechanisms, criticizing subsidies for wealthy families attending private schools, and advocated for systemic solutions rather than one-off fixes.
HB1399: Chairman Information Only00:17:49.440 - 9:43:25 AM; Thanked Angel for his efforts and inquired if proper governance would have prevented the current financial distress, emphasizing that school funding issues were separate from governance failures.
HB1399: Matt Angel Support00:20:06.320 - 9:45:42 AM; Clarified that poor governance, not lack of building aid, caused the financial issues. Stated he could balance the budget without a deficit this year and presented the request as a normal one from a typical district. Noted community interest in participation.
HB1399: Representative Hacken Phillips Information Only00:14:37.680 - 9:40:13 AM; Asked about plans for funds if approved, and inquired about a related bill (HB252) establishing a revolving loan fund from future adequacy aid. Noted the current bill as restorative justice for past aid denial.
HB1399: Matt Angel Information Only00:22:56.159 - 9:48:32 AM; Responded that he hopes to manage cash flow without the loan fund, which involves school board decisions he is unsure about. Expressed preference for standard building aid participation.
HB1399: Representative Kelly Support00:24:18.640 - 9:49:54 AM; Emphasized separating the building aid issue from Claremont's administrative problems. Argued Claremont fell into a gap during the moratorium and advocated reviewing building aid statewide, viewing this as targeted help.
HB1399: Chairman Wiler Oppose00:25:28.080 - 9:51:04 AM; Explained the building aid program's history since 1956, ended due to declining enrollment and to encourage maintenance over new builds. Argued retroactive aid is too late and costly (potentially $500 million statewide), and Claremont's issues stemmed from mismanagement, not aid denial.
HB1399: Representative Papovich Oppose00:27:26.159 - 9:53:02 AM; Moved inexpedient to legislate (ITL) on HB1399, arguing against retroactive rule changes for past projects. Stated new funds should go to current needs, not past ones, consistent with prior rejections.
HB1399: Representative Hacken Phillips Oppose00:28:13.520 - 9:53:49 AM; Applauded the sponsors for highlighting ongoing building aid needs post-moratorium, noting debt service burdens on communities. Voted yes on ITL due to concerns about precedent and addressing only one district instead of statewide issues.
HB1399: Representative Papovich Müller Oppose00:29:16.159 - 9:54:52 AM; Voted yes on ITL.
HB1399: Representative Kofal Oppose00:29:16.159 - 9:54:52 AM; Voted yes on ITL.
HB1399: Representative Wiler Oppose00:29:16.159 - 9:54:52 AM; Voted yes on ITL.
HB1399: Clerk Vote00:29:16.159 - 9:54:52 AM; Voted yes on ITL.
HB1399: Representative Murray Support00:29:16.159 - 9:54:52 AM; Voted yes on ITL with regrets.
HB1399: Representative Hacken Phillips Oppose00:29:16.159 - 9:54:52 AM; Voted yes on ITL.
HB1399: Representative Kelly Oppose00:29:16.159 - 9:54:52 AM; Voted no on ITL.
HB1399: Chairman Oppose00:29:16.159 - 9:54:52 AM; Voted yes on ITL. Motion passed 7-1.