HB 709-FN (2026): allowing parents or guardians to admit their children into any school district where they pay any property or school district taxes.

HB 709-FN (2026)

allowing parents or guardians to admit their children into any school district where they pay any property or school district taxes.

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

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 18, 2025, with 281 people signed in online: 13 in support and 268 in opposition. The committee met in executive session on March 5, 2025 to vote on its recommendation. The committee retained the bill, holding it for further work rather than reporting it out this year. The committee met in executive session on November 5, 2025 to vote on its recommendation. The majority recommended that the House pass it with changes (amendment 2025-3073h), and the minority recommended that the House kill it, by a vote of 11–7. The report was placed on the regular calendar. The committee's amendment (2025-3073h) 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 182–159. It crossed to the Senate on January 29, 2026 and was referred to the Senate Education committee. The committee held a public hearing on March 3, 2026. The committee voted unanimously, 5–0, to recommend that the Senate kill it, and the report was placed on the consent calendar. On March 12, 2026 the Senate voted to kill it on a voice vote.

Sponsors

• Rep. Claudine Burnham (R - Straf 2) (prime sponsor)
• Rep. Susan DeRoy (R - Straf 3)
• Rep. Michael Granger (R - Straf 2)
• Rep. Kelley Potenza (R - Straf 19)
• Rep. Len Turcotte (R - Straf 4)

Hearings and Sessions

• February 18, 2025, 2:30 PM: public hearing, House Education Policy and Administration, LOB 202-204
• March 5, 2025, 9:30 AM: executive session, House Education Policy and Administration, LOB 205-207
• November 5, 2025, 2:00 PM: executive session, House Education Policy and Administration, GP 232
• January 7, 2026: floor debate, House
• March 3, 2026, 10:00 AM: hearing, Senate Education, SL Map Room
• March 12, 2026: consent calendar, Senate

Votes

• January 7, 2026, House: Ought to Pass with Amendment — yeas 182, nays 159, passed
• March 12, 2026, Senate: Inexpedient to Legislate — voice vote, passed

The Docket

Laws It Would Change

• RSA 193:12

From the General Court

• Bill text
• Bill status page
• Docket
• HC 51, page 29
• HJ 1, pages 143 and 144
• SC 8
• SC 9
• SJ 6