Revision: Feb. 10, 2026, 10:56 a.m.
Rep. McDonnell, Rock. 25
Rep. Cornell, Hills. 22
Rep. Belcher, Carr. 4
February 3, 2026
2026-0522h
12/09
Amendment to HB 1467-FN
Amend the title of the bill by replacing it with the following:
AN ACT relative to the New Hampshire seal of civic excellence and engagement program.
Amend the bill by replacing section 1 with the following:
1 New Section; Seal of Civic Excellence and Engagement Program. Amend RSA 189 by inserting after section 11-d the following new section:
189:11-e Seal of Civic Excellence and Engagement Program.
I. A school board or school administrative unit board may affix the New Hampshire state seal of civic excellence and engagement on a diploma awarded to a student graduating from high school, as defined in RSA 194:23. The seal shall signify a student who has achieved a high level of proficiency in civics education and engagement by satisfying the established criteria. The criteria shall include, but is not limited to:
(a) Successful completion of civics education beyond the minimum requirements prescribed by law or adopted locally;
(b) Demonstrated proficiency in civics knowledge, including comparative forms of governance, through a standardized assessment, portfolio of work, or other mastery based assessment as approved by the school board or school administrative unit board; and
(c)(1) Participation in at least one extracurricular activity or project evidencing citizenship and constitutional republican government knowledge attainment as approved by the school board or school administrative unit board; or
(2) Participation in student government activities.
II. The state board of education shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to the seal of civic excellence and engagement program in order to assist school boards and school administrative unit boards in the consistent application of this section in recognizing high student proficiency. Such rules shall further articulate the qualification criteria to promote rigor and consistency in application statewide, including comparable expectations for civic engagement activities across districts and clear definition of the civic knowledge and skills to be measured, while allowing multiple locally determined pathways for assessment.
Amend the bill by replacing section 3 with the following:
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect on July 4, 2026.
2026-0522h
AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill:
I. Establishes the required criteria for a high school student to be awarded the New Hampshire seal of civic excellence and engagement.
II. Authorizes school boards and school administrative unit boards to award qualifying graduating high school students the distinction of a seal affixed to their diploma and completion of the program referenced on their transcript.
III. Authorizes the state board of education to adopt rules relative to the program.