SB 203-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2025 SESSION
25-0671
07/02
SENATE BILL 203-FN
AN ACT relative to administration of the education freedom accounts program.
SPONSORS: Sen. Altschiller, Dist 24; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Fenton, Dist 10; Sen. Long, Dist 20; Sen. Perkins Kwoka, Dist 21; Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13; Rep. Muns, Rock. 29
COMMITTEE: Education
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ANALYSIS
This bill changes income eligibility and reporting requirements for the education freedom account program and modifies the program's administration and oversight.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-0671
07/02
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT relative to administration of the education freedom accounts program.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Education; Education Freedom Accounts; Definitions. Amend RSA 194-F:1, VI to read as follows:
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, and for each school year during the student's participation, matches the state mandated income threshold, is less than or equal to 350 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). [No income threshold need be met in subsequent years, 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.
2 Education; Education Freedom Accounts; Program. Amend RSA 194-F:2, VII to read as follows:
VII. An EFA shall remain in force, and any unused funds shall roll over from quarter-to-quarter [and from year-to-year] until the parent withdraws the EFA student from the EFA program, until the student becomes ineligible, or until the EFA student graduates from high school, unless the EFA is closed because of a substantial misuse of funds. Any unused funds shall revert to the education trust fund established in RSA 198:39 [and be allocated to fund other EFAs].
3 New Paragraph; Education Freedom Account Program; Department of Education; Reporting. Amend RSA 194-F:2 by inserting after paragraph IX the following new paragraph:
X. The department shall report annually by July 1 to the legislative oversight committee established in RSA 194-F:12, and to the chairpersons of the education committees of the house of representatives and senate, on the number of students in each town with community populations of more than 500 residents that are participating in the EFA program. The legislative budget assistant audit division shall conduct randomized annual EFA income verification auditing of 33 percent of
the participating families.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.
25-0671
1/19/25
SB 203-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT relative to administration of the education freedom accounts program.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Office of Legislative Budget Assistant is unable to complete a fiscal note for this bill as it is awaiting information from the Department of Education. The Department was contacted on 12/26/24 for a fiscal note worksheet. When completed, the fiscal note will be forwarded to the Senate Clerk's Office.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Education
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 11, 2025 | Senate | Hearing |
Feb. 5, 2025: Hearing: 02/11/2025, Room 101, LOB, 09:00 am; SC 9
Jan. 23, 2025: Introduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Education; SJ 3