HB 1374 - AS INTRODUCED
2026 SESSION
26-3033
12/09
HOUSE BILL 1374
AN ACT relative to the procedures for withdrawal from a cooperative school district.
SPONSORS: Rep. Mary Murphy, Hills. 27; Rep. Colcombe, Hills. 30; Rep. Ford, Rock. 3; Rep. Peeples, Hills. 14; Rep. D. McGuire, Merr. 14; Rep. Porcelli, Rock. 19; Rep. P. Brown, Rock. 14; Sen. Ward, Dist 8
COMMITTEE: Education Policy and Administration
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ANALYSIS
This bill modifies the procedure for withdrawal from a cooperative school district to allow a majority of voters in a single withdrawing district to elect to withdraw. The bill also clarifies that a supermajority of voters in the withdrawing district voting in favor of withdrawal shall constitute conclusive evidence of the withdrawal of the district.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-3033
12/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT relative to the procedures for withdrawal from a cooperative school district.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Vote on Withdrawal; Withdrawing District Only; Supermajority Requirement Modified. Amend RSA 195:29 to read as follows:
195:29 Vote on Withdrawal. If the state board approves the plan for withdrawal, the board shall cause the withdrawal plan to be published once in some newspaper generally circulated within the cooperative school district. Upon receipt of a written notice of the board's approval of the withdrawal agreement, the school board of the cooperative district shall cause the withdrawal plan to be filed with the clerk of the cooperative school district and submitted to the voters of the withdrawing district as soon as may reasonably be possible at an annual or special meeting called for the purpose, the voting to be by ballot with the use of the checklist, after reasonable opportunity for debate in open meeting. The article in the warrant for the withdrawing district meeting and the question on the ballot to be used at the meeting shall be in substantially the following form:
"Shall the school district accept the provisions of RSA 195 (as amended) providing for the withdrawal of the preexisting district of __________ from the __________ cooperative school district in accordance with the provisions of the proposed withdrawal plan filed with the school district clerk?"
Yes _________ No _________
I. If a majority of voters present and voting in the withdrawing preexisting district vote in the negative, against withdrawal, then the withdrawal process is terminated.
II. If a 3/5 supermajority [majority] of the voters present and voting in the withdrawing preexisting district shall vote in the affirmative, in favor of withdrawal [and a majority of the voters present and voting in the entire cooperative district shall vote in the affirmative, in favor of withdrawal], the clerk of the cooperative school district shall forthwith send to the state board of education a certified copy of the warrant, certificate of posting, evidence of publication, and minutes of the meeting.
[III. If a 3/5 supermajority of the voters present and voting in the withdrawing preexisting district vote in the affirmative, in favor of the withdrawal, the clerk of the cooperative school district shall forthwith send to the state board of education a certified copy of the warrant, certificate of posting, evidence of publication, and minutes of the meeting unless a 3/5 supermajority of the voters present and voting in the entire cooperative district vote in the negative, against withdrawal.]
[IV.] III. If the state board of education finds that a [majority] 3/5 supermajority of the voters present and voting, in the withdrawing preexisting district [and the entire cooperative district, or by the alternative supermajority vote under paragraph III,] have voted in favor of the withdrawal plan, it shall issue its certificate to that effect and such certificate shall be conclusive evidence of the withdrawal of the preexisting district and the continuation of the cooperative school district as of the date of its issuance, or the dissolution of a 2-district cooperative if the cooperative was formed by 2 preexisting districts. A withdrawal plan shall be prepared and it shall provide for the disposition of property held within the cooperative and a statement of assumption of liabilities.
2 Procedure for Review; Withdrawal Plan Submission; Withdrawing District Only. Amend RSA 195:25, VI to read as follows:
VI. If the state board approves the withdrawal plan, whether submitted by the committee or by minority report, the plan shall be submitted to the voters of the [cooperative] withdrawing school district in accordance with RSA 195:29.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
Dec. 2, 2025: To Be Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Education Policy and Administration