HB 1610 (2026): allowing school districts to annually retain year-end unassigned general funds.

HB 1610 (2026)

allowing school districts to annually retain year-end unassigned general funds.

• Status: Vetoed, override failed
• Term: 2025-2026
• House committee: Education Funding
• Senate committee: Education Finance
• Subject: Education - General

The Story

It was introduced on January 7, 2026 and referred to the House Education Funding committee. The committee held a public hearing on January 29, 2026, with 4 people signed in online: 3 in support and 1 in opposition. The committee met in executive session on February 17, 2026 to vote on its recommendation. The majority recommended that the House pass it with changes (amendment 2026-0809h), and the minority recommended that the House kill it, by a vote of 10–7. The report was placed on the regular calendar. The committee's amendment (2026-0809h) was adopted on a voice vote on March 5, 2026, changing the text of the bill. On March 5, 2026 the House voted to pass it with changes on a roll call 182–167. It crossed to the Senate on March 5, 2026 and was referred to the Senate Education Finance committee. The committee held a public hearing on April 1, 2026. The committee voted 4–2 to recommend that the Senate pass it with changes (amendment 2026-1635s). The committee's amendment (2026-1635s) was adopted on a voice vote on May 7, 2026, changing the text of the bill. On May 7, 2026 the Senate voted to pass it with changes on a voice vote and ordered it to a third reading. On May 21, 2026 the House adopted “House Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1635s” on a roll call 186–163, on a motion by Rep. Rick Ladd. The bill was enrolled on June 4, 2026 — the final check of the text before it goes to the governor. The governor vetoed it on July 2, 2026. The legislature can override a veto with a two-thirds vote in both chambers. On August 19, 2026 the House voted 162–148 on overriding the governor's veto on a roll call, and the veto was sustained, failing to meet the two thirds threshold.

Sponsors

• Rep. John Sellers (R - Graf 10) (prime sponsor)
• Rep. Susan DeRoy (R - Straf 3)
• Rep. Linda Franz (R - Graf 6)
• Rep. Sandra Panek (R - Hills 1)
• Rep. Diane Pauer (R - Hills 36)

Hearings and Sessions

• January 29, 2026, 11:30 AM: public hearing, House Education Funding, GP 232
• February 17, 2026, 10:00 AM: executive session, House Education Funding, GP 232
• March 5, 2026: floor debate, House
• April 1, 2026, 1:20 PM: hearing, Senate Education Finance, SH 100
• May 7, 2026: floor debate, Senate
• May 21, 2026: floor debate, House
• August 19, 2026: floor debate, House

Votes

• March 5, 2026, House: Ought to Pass with Amendment — yeas 182, nays 167, passed
• May 7, 2026, Senate: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1635s — voice vote, passed
• May 21, 2026, House: Concur — yeas 186, nays 163, passed
• August 19, 2026, House: Veto Override — yeas 162, nays 148, failed

The Docket

Laws It Would Change

• RSA 198:4-b

From the General Court

• Bill text
• Bill status page
• Docket
• HJ 1, page 28
• HC 9, page 34
• HJ 6, page 58
• SJ 6
• SC 12
• SC 17
• SJ 11
• HJ 14, page 3
• SJ 14
• HJ 15, page 52
• HJ 16, page 48
• This page’s data as JSON