SB 101-FN (2026): authorizing parents to enroll their children in any public school in the state.

SB 101-FN (2026)

authorizing parents to enroll their children in any public school in the state.

• Status: Died on the table
• 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 Senate Education committee. The committee held a public hearing on January 28, 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 March 13, 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. The bill was taken off the consent calendar on January 7, 2026. On January 7, 2026 the Senate rejected a motion to kill it on a voice vote. On January 7, 2026 the Senate voted to pass it on a voice vote, then referred it on to the Senate Finance committee. The committee held a public hearing on January 20, 2026 on a proposed non-germane amendment (2026-0071s). The committee voted 6–1 to recommend that the Senate pass it with changes (amendment 2026-0194s). The committee's amendment (2026-0194s) was adopted on a roll call 14–10 on January 29, 2026, changing the text of the bill. On January 29, 2026 the Senate adopted “Without Objection, Sen. Birdsell Moved the Question”. On January 29, 2026 the Senate voted to pass it with changes and ordered it to a third reading. It crossed to the House on February 19, 2026 and was referred to the House Education Policy and Administration committee. The committee held a public hearing on March 25, 2026, with 1,488 people signed in online: 63 in support, 1,424 in opposition and 1 as neutral. The committee held a public hearing on April 1, 2026, with 762 people signed in online: 12 in support and 750 in opposition. The committee held a work session on April 13, 2026. The committee met in executive session on April 13, 2026 to vote on its recommendation. The majority recommended that the House pass it with changes (amendment 2026-1451h), and the minority recommended that the House pass it with changes (amendment 2026-1455h), by a vote of 10–8. The report was placed on the regular calendar. The committee's amendment (2026-1451h) was adopted on a roll call 182–172 on April 23, 2026, changing the text of the bill. The committee minority's amendment (2026-1455h) was rejected on a roll call 169–184 on April 23, 2026. On April 23, 2026 the House rejected a motion to pass it with changes on a roll call 168–184. On April 23, 2026 the House adopted “Lay SB101 on Table” on a division vote 320–32, on a motion by Rep. Joe Sweeney. The bill died on the table when the session ended on August 19, 2026, having been set aside and never taken back up.

Sponsors

• Sen. Timothy Lang (R - SD2) (prime sponsor)
• Sen. Daniel Innis (R - SD7)
• Sen. James Gray (R - SD6)
• Sen. Victoria Sullivan (R - SD18)
• Sen. Keith Murphy (R - SD16)
• Sen. Howard Pearl (R - SD17)
• Rep. Jason Osborne (R - Rock 2)
• Rep. Gregory Hill (R - Merr 2)
• Rep. Erica Layon (R - Rock 13)

Hearings and Sessions

• January 28, 2025, 10:30 AM: hearing, Senate Education, LOB 101
• March 13, 2025: consent calendar, Senate
• January 7, 2026: floor debate, Senate
• January 20, 2026, 2:10 PM: hearing, Senate Education, SH 103
• January 29, 2026: floor debate, Senate
• March 25, 2026, 1:00 PM: public hearing, House Education Policy and Administration, GP 232
• April 1, 2026, 10:00 AM: public hearing, House Education Policy and Administration, GP 232
• April 13, 2026, 10:30 AM: full committee work session, House Education Policy and Administration, GP 232
• April 13, 2026, 1:00 PM: executive session, House Education Policy and Administration, GP 232
• April 23, 2026: floor debate, House

Votes

• March 13, 2025, Senate: Rereferred to Committee — voice vote, passed
• January 7, 2026, Senate: Inexpedient to Legislate — voice vote, failed
• January 7, 2026, Senate: Ought to Pass — voice vote, passed
• January 29, 2026, Senate: Adopt Committee Amendment — yeas 14, nays 10, passed
• January 29, 2026, Senate: Ought to Pass with Amendment — yeas 14, nays 10, passed
• April 23, 2026, House: Adopt Amendment — yeas 182, nays 172, passed
• April 23, 2026, House: Adopt Amendment — yeas 169, nays 184, failed
• April 23, 2026, House: Ought to Pass with Amendment — yeas 168, nays 184, failed
• April 23, 2026, House: Lay SB101 on Table — yeas 320, nays 32, passed

The Docket

Laws It Would Change

• RSA 198:39
• RSA 194-D

From the General Court

• Bill text
• Bill status page
• Docket
• SC 7
• SC 12
• SJ 1
• SC 2
• SC 3, page 3
• SJ 2
• HJ 5, page 124
• HJ 11, pages 37, 42, 45 and 47
• HJ 16
• House Calendar 16, 2026, committee report
• This page’s data as JSON