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HB 1573

(New Title) permitting excused absences for student participation in certain activities and mandating the state board of education to grant school reassignment requests for students demonstrating a manifest educational hardship

Filed 2026 · Signed into law · Education Policy and Administration · Education - General

Official record at gencourt.state.nh.us ↗

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On the record

Quoted from the General Court bill status page, not worked out from the docket.

StatusSIGNED BY GOVERNOR
In the SenatePASSED/ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENT
Introduced1/7/2026
Floor date5/21/2026
LSR number2868
Chapter0307
Local government impactno
Committee codeH62

Bill text (PDF) ↗

Where it stands

Senate: PASSED/ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENT

Every floor vote on this bill was a voice or division vote, so there is no record of how individual legislators voted.

Sponsors

Thibault, James(R) Merr 25, Drye, Margaret(R) Sull 7, Farrington, Samuel(R) Straf 8, Freeman, Lisa(R) Belk 8, Harvey-Bolia, Juliet(R) Belk 3, Innis, Daniel(R) Belk 7, Litchfield, Melissa(R) Rock 32, Moffett, Michael(R) Merr 4, Sullivan, Victoria(R) Hills 18, Wheeler, Jonah(D) Hills 33
Prime sponsor in bold. From the General Court sponsor file.

What happened

Every action recorded in the official docket, in order. Each line ends with the journal or calendar that recorded it; where we have the document, that citation links to it.

Votes

Roll call tallies and individual votes from the General Court roll call files. Presiding, excused and absent are shown separately: one member presides over each House roll call and does not vote except to break a tie.

Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-0396h

March 5, 2026 · House · 200–149, adopted

Decided on a division vote. Only the outcome was recorded — there is no count of how any member voted.

Adopt Committee Amendment

May 7, 2026 · Senate · 14–8, adopted

Votes by party
PartyYesNoExcused
Republican1402
Democrat080
Total1482
Yes — 14
  • Abbas, Daryl(R) Rock 22
  • Birdsell, Regina(R) Rock 19
  • Carson, Sharon(R) Rock 14
  • Gannon, Bill(R) Rock 23
  • Gray, James(R) Straf 6
  • Innis, Daniel(R) Belk 7
  • Lang, Timothy(R) Belk 2
  • McConkey, Mark(R) Carr 3
  • McGough, Tim(R) Hills 11
  • Murphy, Keith(R) Hills 16
  • Pearl, Howard(R) Merr 17
  • Rochefort, David(R) Graf 1
  • Sullivan, Victoria(R) Hills 18
  • Ward, Ruth(R) Ches 8
No — 8
  • Altschiller, Debra(D) Rock 24
  • Fenton, Donovan(D) Ches 10
  • Long, Pat(D) Hills 20
  • Perkins Kwoka, Rebecca(D) Rock 21
  • Prentiss, Suzanne(D) Graf 5
  • Reardon, Tara(D) Merr 15
  • Rosenwald, Cindy(D) Hills 13
  • Watters, David(D) Straf 4
Excused — 2
  • Avard, Kevin(R) Hills 12
  • Ricciardi, Denise(R) Ches 9

House Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1244s and 2026-1729s (Rep. Noble)

May 21, 2026 · House · 186–160, adopted

Decided on a division vote. Only the outcome was recorded — there is no count of how any member voted.

Committee reports

Reproduced from the House Calendar in the committee’s own words.

Majority — OUGHT TO PASS WITH AMENDMENT

Rep. Margaret Drye

This bill permits excused absences for students participating in civic or career and technical education (CTE) events. The amended version redefines a “civic event” as one “held by federal, state, or local government bodies.” It defines a «career or technical education event» as “any event or activity relating to a career or technical education curriculum or student organization, such as 4-H, Future Farmers of America (FFA), Future Business Leaders of America, SkillsUSA, Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), or DECA.” Schools will be required to excuse up to two of a student’s school day absences per academic year for civic or CTE events. This bill recognizes that some educational competitions and events occasionally require time for preparation and/or travel and makes sure that a student can take that time without penalty. Vote 10-8.

Minority — INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE

Rep. Lee Ann Kluger

The minority considers and appreciates the importance of primary source participation in relation to the civic and Career and Technical Education (CTE) engagement of our students. This bill as amended creates added parameters that would be counter to local control. For example, the bill if implemented, would require school districts to allow for two excused absences every academic year to attend civic or CTE events. According to the bill, schools could also excuse students added days off if considered necessary. School districts should have the ability to implement their own attendance policies that are in the best interest of their students. Also, the listing of events that students could potentially attend highlights a limited category of events which could invite confusion and marginalize other valuable organizations. The minority maintains that Inexpedient to Legislate is the most proper vote to protect local control decision making.

Hearings and recordings

Recordings are the General Court’s own, on YouTube. Start times are estimates unless stated otherwise, and the player opens early.

Page generated 2026-09-03 from data published by the New Hampshire General Court. Granite Record is an independent project, not affiliated with the General Court. The official record always takes precedence. Corrections: [email protected]