HB 549-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2025 SESSION
25-0234
02/09
HOUSE BILL 549-FN
SPONSORS: Rep. Horrigan, Straf. 10; Rep. Vail, Hills. 6; Rep. Howland, Straf. 20
COMMITTEE: Education Funding
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ANALYSIS
This bill prohibits the use of education freedom account funds at religious schools or for religious education or training, and repeals provisions relating to independence of and legal proceedings concerning education freedom account providers.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-0234
02/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Education Freedom Program; Higher Education. Amend RSA 194-F:2, I(m) to read as follows:
(m) Tuition and fees at an accredited institution of higher education.
2 Education Freedom Accounts; Program; Use of Funds. Amend RSA 194-F:2, III to read as follows:
III. The funds in an EFA may only be used for educational purposes in accordance with paragraph II, and shall not be used at a religious school or for a religious education or training.
3 Repeals. The following are repealed:
I. RSA 194-F:4, XVII, relative to disadvantaging education providers with religiously-based policies or practices.
II. RSA 194-F:7, II through V relative to independence of education service providers in the EFA program.
III. RSA 194-F:9, relative to legal proceedings.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.
25-0234
1/4/25
HB 549-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT relative to the use of education freedom account funds in religious schools and institutions of higher education.
FISCAL IMPACT:
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Estimated State Impact | ||||||
| FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Revenue Fund(s) | None | |||||
Expenditures* | $0 | Indeterminable | ||||
Funding Source(s) | Education Trust Fund | |||||
Appropriations* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | None | |||||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | ||||||
The Office of Legislative Budget Assistant is unable to provide a complete fiscal note for this bill, as introduced, as it is awaiting information from the Department of Education. The Department was originally contacted on 12/10/24 for a fiscal note worksheet. When completed, a revised fiscal note will be forwarded to the House Clerk's Office.
METHODOLOGY:
This bill limits the use of education freedom accounts (EFAs). It is unknown to what extent this bill may have on state education trust fund expenditures for EFAs as it is unknown to what extent EFA program participants would remain in the program and just repurpose their available funding to comply with the changes in this bill.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Education
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 24, 2025 | House | Hearing |
Jan. 15, 2025: Public Hearing: 01/24/2025 12:45 pm LOB 205-207
Jan. 14, 2025: Introduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Education Funding HJ 3