HB1548 (2026) Detail

Requiring the department of education to collect and publish data regarding the costs associated with providing special education services to students of public, charter, private, trade, and other K-12 schools or academies.


HB 1548-FN - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2026 SESSION

26-2794

04/09

 

HOUSE BILL 1548-FN

 

AN ACT requiring the department of education to collect and publish data regarding the costs associated with providing special education services to students of public, charter, private, trade, and other K-12 schools or academies.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Hicks, Merr. 24; Rep. Fracht, Graf. 16

 

COMMITTEE: Education Policy and Administration

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill requires the New Hampshire department of education to collect and publish data on the costs of special education services across public school districts, charter schools, and approved private schools.

 

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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

26-2794

04/09

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

 

AN ACT requiring the department of education to collect and publish data regarding the costs associated with providing special education services to students of public, charter, private, trade, and other K-12 schools or academies.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  New Section; Reporting and Publication of Special Education Cost Data.  Amend RSA 186-C by inserting after section 18 the following new section:  

186-C:18-a Reporting and Publication of Special Education Cost Data. The department of education shall provide the legislature and publish on its website a report detailing the costs of special education and related services provided to a child with a disability pursuant to an individual education program.  The report shall break down costs by school district and by provider type, including services delivered directly by the district or through chartered public schools, public academies, joint maintenance agreements, state facilities, or private special education providers.  The report shall also include related transportation costs.  If the department does not currently collect all required data, it shall publish available information and adopt rules under RSA 541-A to require school districts to report the remaining data.  

2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

 

LBA

26-2794

12/4/25

 

HB 1548-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

 

AN ACT requiring the department of education to collect and publish data regarding the costs associated with providing special education services to students of public, charter, private, trade, and other K-12 schools or academies.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:   This bill does not provide funding, nor does it authorize new positions.

 

 

Estimated State Impact

 

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

Revenue Fund(s)

None

Expenditures*

$0

Indeterminable Increase

Funding Source(s)

General Fund

Appropriations*

$0

$0

$0

$0

Funding Source(s)

None

*Expenditure = Cost of bill                *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill

 

Estimated Political Subdivision Impact

 

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

Local Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

Local Expenditures

$0

Indeterminable

 

METHODOLOGY:

This bill requires the Department of Education to publish and provide the General Court with detailed reports on special education costs. The Department states it would need to employ more staff to analyze and organize this data further to meet the requirements of this bill. The Department has not provided any details of staffing it may require or estimated costs. This bill provides neither authority nor appropriation for new personnel.  Costs, if any, for local school districts complying with the requirements of this bill are indeterminable and will vary by district.

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Education

 

Links


Action Dates

Date Body Type
Feb. 2, 2026 House Hearing

Bill Text Revisions

HB1548 Revision: 49984 Date: Dec. 10, 2025, 9:19 a.m.

Docket


Jan. 28, 2026: Public Hearing: 02/02/2026 11:10 am GP 232


Dec. 10, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Education Policy and Administration