New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

New Hampshire House Bill HB115 Compare Versions

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Old	New	Differences
1	1	HB 115-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
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5	5	13Mar2025... 0651h
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7	7	2025 SESSION
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9	9	25-0061
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11	11	07/02
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15	15	HOUSE BILL115-FN
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19	19	AN ACTrelative to universal eligibility for the education freedom account program.
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23	23	SPONSORS:Rep. McDonnell, Rock. 25; Rep. Ladd, Graf. 5; Rep. Noble, Hills. 2; Rep. Soti, Rock. 35; Rep. Verville, Rock. 2; Rep. Cordelli, Carr. 7; Rep. Sweeney, Rock. 25; Rep. Seidel, Hills. 29; Rep. Alexander Jr., Hills. 29; Rep. Weyler, Rock. 14; Sen. Murphy, Dist 16; Sen. Ward, Dist 8; Sen. Sullivan, Dist 18; Sen. Innis, Dist 7
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27	27	COMMITTEE:Education Funding
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31	31	-----------------------------------------------------------------
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35	35	AMENDED ANALYSIS
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39	39	This bill increases the income eligibility for the EFA program in fiscal year 2026 and removes the income eligibility criteria beginning in fiscal year 2027.
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43	43	- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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47	47	Explanation:Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
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49	49	Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
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51	51	Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
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53	53	13Mar2025... 0651h25-0061
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55	55	07/02
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59	59	STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
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63	63	In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
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67	67	AN ACTrelative to universal eligibility for the education freedom account program.
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71	71	Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
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75	75	1 Education Freedom Accounts; Definitions; Eligible Student. Amend RSA 194-F:1, VI to read as follows:
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77	77	VI. "Eligible student" means a resident of this state who is eligible to enroll in a public elementary or secondary school and whose annual household income at the time the student applies for the program is less than or equal to [350] 400 percent of the federal poverty guidelines as updated annually in the Federal Register by the United States Department of Health and Human Services under 42 U.S.C. section 9902(2). After June 30, 2026, no income threshold need be met in subsequent years for a kindergarten through grade 12 student to enroll in the EFA program, provided the student otherwise qualifies. Students in the special school district within the department of corrections established in RSA 194:60 shall not be eligible students.
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79	79	2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
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83	83	LBA
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85	85	25-0061
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87	87	12/9/24
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91	91	HB 115-FN- FISCAL NOTE
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93	93	AS INTRODUCED
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97	97	AN ACTrelative to universal eligibility for the education freedom account program.
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101	101	FISCAL IMPACT:
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104	104	Estimated State Impact
105	105	FY 2025 FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028
106	106	Revenue $0 $0 $0 $0
107	107	Revenue Fund(s) None
108	108	Expenditures* $0 Indeterminable
109	109	Funding Source(s) Education Trust Fund
110	110	Appropriations* $0 Statutory Appropriation Under RSA 194-F:11 for Any Amount Necessary to Fund Program
111	111	Funding Source(s) Education Trust Fund
112	112	Expenditure = Cost of bill Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill
113	113	Estimated Political Subdivision Impact
114	114	FY 2025 FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028
115	115	Local Revenue $0 Indeterminable
116	116	Local Expenditures $0 Indeterminable
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122	122	Estimated State Impact
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126	126	FY 2025
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128	128	FY 2026
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130	130	FY 2027
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132	132	FY 2028
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134	134	Revenue
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136	136	$0
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138	138	$0
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140	140	$0
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142	142	$0
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144	144	Revenue Fund(s)
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146	146	None
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148	148	Expenditures*
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150	150	$0
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152	152	Indeterminable
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154	154	Funding Source(s)
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156	156	Education Trust Fund
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158	158	Appropriations*
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160	160	$0
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162	162	Statutory Appropriation Under RSA 194-F:11 for Any Amount Necessary to Fund Program
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164	164	Funding Source(s)
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166	166	Education Trust Fund
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168	168	Expenditure = Cost of bill Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill
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172	172	Estimated Political Subdivision Impact
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176	176	FY 2025
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178	178	FY 2026
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180	180	FY 2027
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182	182	FY 2028
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184	184	Local Revenue
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186	186	$0
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188	188	Indeterminable
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190	190	Local Expenditures
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192	192	$0
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194	194	Indeterminable
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198	198	METHODOLOGY:
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200	200	This bill eliminates the income requirement for eligibility for the education freedom account (EFA) program. As of September 2024, 5,321 students were in the EFA program with an annualized cost estimated at $27.7 million with the grant averaging $5,204 per student. The average adequacy education grant (FY 2026 preliminary estimates as of November 15, 2024) to public district schools is $7,108, which includes cost of an opportunity for an adequate education, and extraordinary needs and hold harmless grants. Students entering the program under this bill would likely receive a grant less than the current average, since the newly eligible population would not be eligible for free or reduced-priced meal (F&R) differentiated aid. It is estimated that the average EFA grant for the newly eligible population under this bill would be approximately $4,419 (assuming 7% are eligible for special education differentiated aid).
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204	204	The Department of Education states this bill will result in an indeterminable number of new students accessing the program. The following is information relative to the different situations in which a student may access the EFA program:
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216	216	As students potentially leave traditional district schools and join the EFA program, districts may feel pressure to reduce their local expenditures to better fit the reduced population served. It is unknown the impact this would have on local expenditures, but this could potentially result in an indeterminable decrease.
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220	220	It should be noted, that under current law, EFA and charter school grants are paid based on current year enrollments, while district adequacy grants are paid based on the previous school year enrollments (one year lag).
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224	224	AGENCIES CONTACTED:
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226	226	Department of Education