HB 656 (2026): relative to the authority of local school districts to accept federal grants.

HB 656 (2026)

relative to the authority of local school districts to accept federal grants.

• Status: Signed into law
• Term: 2025-2026
• House committee: Education Funding
• Senate committee: Education Finance
• Subject: Education - General
• Chapter law: 130

The Story

It was introduced on January 9, 2025 and referred to the House Education Funding committee. The committee held a public hearing on January 28, 2025, with 206 people signed in online: 123 in support and 83 in opposition. The committee met in executive session on February 18, 2025 and March 12, 2025. The committee retained the bill, holding it for further work rather than reporting it out this year. The committee held a work session on November 13, 2025. The committee met in executive session on November 13, 2025 to vote on its recommendation. The majority recommended that the House pass it with changes (amendment 2025-2933h), and the minority recommended that the House kill it, by a vote of 10–8. The report was placed on the regular calendar. The committee's amendment (2025-2933h) was adopted on a voice vote on January 7, 2026, changing the text of the bill. On January 7, 2026 the House voted to pass it with changes on a roll call 186–155. It crossed to the Senate on January 29, 2026 and was referred to the Senate Education Finance committee. The committee held a public hearing on February 12, 2026. The committee voted unanimously, 4–0, to recommend that the Senate pass it, and the report was placed on the consent calendar. On April 23, 2026 the Senate voted to pass it on a voice vote and ordered it to a third reading. The bill was enrolled on May 21, 2026 — the final check of the text before it goes to the governor. The governor signed it on June 12, 2026, making it Chapter 130 of the session laws.

Sponsors

• Rep. Katy Peternel (R - Carr 6) (prime sponsor)
• Rep. Riché Colcombe (R - Hills 30)
• Rep. Mike Drago (R - Rock 4)
• Rep. Margaret Drye (R - Sull 7)
• Rep. Juliet Harvey-Bolia (R - Belk 3)
• Rep. Melissa Litchfield (R - Rock 32)
• Rep. Kristin Noble (R - Hills 2)
• Rep. Diane Pauer (R - Hills 36)
• Rep. Pam Brown (R - Rock 14)
• Rep. Susan DeRoy (R - Straf 3)
• Sen. David Rochefort (R - SD1)
• Sen. Victoria Sullivan (R - SD18)

Hearings and Sessions

• January 28, 2025, 2:15 PM: public hearing, House Education Funding, LOB 205-207
• February 18, 2025, 10:30 AM: executive session, House Education Funding, LOB 205-207
• March 12, 2025, 10:30 AM: executive session, House Education Funding, LOB 201
• November 13, 2025, 1:00 PM: full committee work session, House Education Funding, GP 232
• November 13, 2025, 2:00 PM: executive session, House Education Funding, GP 232
• January 7, 2026: floor debate, House
• February 12, 2026, 9:30 AM: hearing, Senate Education Finance, SH 103
• April 23, 2026: consent calendar, Senate

Votes

• January 7, 2026, House: Ought to Pass with Amendment — yeas 186, nays 155, passed
• April 23, 2026, Senate: Ought to Pass — voice vote, passed

The Docket

Laws It Would Change

• RSA 198:4
• RSA 198:20-b

From the General Court

• Bill text
• Bill status page
• Docket
• HC 51, page 25
• HJ 1, page 118
• SC 5
• SC 15
• SJ 10
• SJ 14
• HJ 14, page 34