HB 431 (2026): establishing a commission to study the costs of special education.

HB 431 (2026)

establishing a commission to study the costs of special education.

• Status: Killed
• Term: 2025-2026
• House committee: Education Policy and Administration
• Senate committee: Education
• Subject: Study Committees and Commissions

The Story

It was introduced on January 9, 2025 and referred to the House Education Policy and Administration committee. The committee held a public hearing on February 10, 2025, with 527 people signed in online: 475 in support and 52 in opposition. The committee held a public hearing on March 10, 2025, with 305 people signed in online: 280 in support, 20 in opposition and 5 as neutral. The committee held a public hearing on March 12, 2025 on a proposed non-germane amendment (2025-0724h), with 74 people signed in online: 43 in support and 31 in opposition. The majority recommended that the House pass it with changes (amendment 2025-0724h), and the minority recommended that the House pass it, by a vote of 10–8. The report was placed on the regular calendar. On March 20, 2025 the House failed “Persuant to House Rule 39(e), Withdrawn” on a roll call 160–207. The committee's amendment (2025-0724h) was adopted on a division vote 202–163 on March 27, 2025, changing the text of the bill. On March 27, 2025 the House voted to pass it with changes on a voice vote. It crossed to the Senate on March 27, 2025 and was referred to the Senate Education committee. The committee held a public hearing on April 29, 2025. The committee voted unanimously, 5–0, to recommend that the Senate send it back to committee, and the report was placed on the consent calendar. On May 15, 2025 the Senate voted to send it back to committee on a voice vote. The committee voted unanimously, 5–0, to recommend that the Senate kill it, and the report was placed on the consent calendar. On January 7, 2026 the Senate voted to kill it on a voice vote.

Sponsors

• Rep. Hope Damon (D - Sull 8) (prime sponsor)
• Rep. Patricia Cornell (D - Hills 22)
• Rep. Sallie Fellows (D - Graf 8)
• Rep. Nicholas Germana (D - Ches 15)
• Rep. Muriel Hall (D - Merr 9)
• Rep. Heath Howard (D - Straf 4)
• Rep. David Luneau (D - Merr 9)
• Rep. Peter Petrigno (D - Hills 43)
• Rep. Heather Raymond (D - Hills 5)
• Rep. Stephen Woodcock (D - Carr 1)
• Sen. Debra Altschiller (D - SD24)
• Sen. Donovan Fenton (D - SD10)
• Sen. Pat Long (D - SD20)
• Sen. Suzanne Prentiss (D - SD5)

Hearings and Sessions

• February 10, 2025, 2:30 PM: public hearing, House Education Policy and Administration, SH Reps Hall
• March 10, 2025, 10:15 AM: public hearing, House Education Policy and Administration, LOB 205-207
• March 20, 2025: floor debate, House
• March 27, 2025: floor debate, House
• April 29, 2025, 9:30 AM: hearing, Senate Education, LOB 101
• May 15, 2025: consent calendar, Senate
• January 7, 2026: consent calendar, Senate

Votes

• March 20, 2025, House: Withdraw — yeas 160, nays 207, failed
• March 27, 2025, House: Adopt Committee Amendment — yeas 202, nays 163, passed
• March 27, 2025, House: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2025-0724h — voice vote, passed
• May 15, 2025, Senate: Rereferred to Committee — voice vote, passed
• January 7, 2026, Senate: Inexpedient to Legislate — voice vote, passed

The Docket

Laws It Would Change

• RSA 186-C
• RSA 186-C:1-a

Related Bills

• SB 57 (2025): establishing a study committee to analyze reducing the number of school administrative units and establishing a commission to study the costs of special education.
• SB 57 (2025): establishing a study committee to analyze reducing the number of school administrative units and establishing a commission to study the costs of special education.

From the General Court

• Bill text
• Bill status page
• Docket
• HC 17, page 51
• SC 19
• SC 21A
• SJ 1