HB 1573 - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES
5Mar2026... 0396h
05/07/2026 1729s
2026 SESSION
26-2868
12/06
HOUSE BILL 1573
SPONSORS: Rep. Thibault, Merr. 25; Rep. Drye, Sull. 7; Rep. Farrington, Straf. 8; Rep. Freeman, Belk. 8; Rep. Harvey-Bolia, Belk. 3; Rep. Litchfield, Rock. 32; Rep. Moffett, Merr. 4; Rep. Wheeler, Hills. 33; Sen. Innis, Dist 7; Sen. Sullivan, Dist 18
COMMITTEE: Education Policy and Administration
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill:
I. Permits excused absences for students that are participating in civic engagement activities and career or technical education (CTE) activities so long as parental notice is provided to schools and other requirements are met.
II. Directs the state board of education to develop rules, a list of recognized CTE organizations, and alternative academic credits relative to participation in civic or CTE activities.
III. Mandates that the state board of education, on appeal, grant a parent's or guardian's request to re-assign their student to another public school, public academy, or an approved private school where such parent or guardian demonstrates the student has a manifest educational hardship.
IV. Adds a statutory cross-reference to the exceptions for legal residence requirements relative to school attendance.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
5Mar2026... 0396h
05/07/2026 1729s 26-2868
12/06
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Excused Absences for Civic and Career Technical Education Activities. Amend RSA 193 by inserting after section 1-c the following new section:
193:1-d Excused Absences for Civic and Career Technical Education Activities.
I. Students in public or public charter primary or secondary schools who wish to attend civic events during the school day shall have their school abscences excused.
II. For the purposes of this section:
(a) “Civic event” means:
(1) Any event, activity, hearing, or meeting held by a federal, state, county, or local government office, agency, or body; or
(2) Any educational program, competition, or award ceremony sponsored or hosted by a patriotic or national organization, listed in 36 U.S.C., Subtitle II, Part B.
(b) “Career or technical education event,” or “CTE event,” means:
(1) State, regional, or national competitions or conferences sponsored by CTE student organizations recognized by the state board of education pursuant to RSA 186:11, XXXVIII;
(2) Agricultural fairs where students are exhibiting livestock or project work; or
(3) Individual job shadows or workplace observations of no more than one school day per employer.
III. Schools shall be required to excuse 2 of a student’s school day absences per academic year for civic or CTE events.
(a) This paragraph shall not preclude schools from excusing further absences at their own discretion.
(b) Participation in activities related to statutory or executive New Hampshire youth advisory councils, either as a member or a guest, shall supersede this paragraph and shall always be excused.
(c) Students attending multi-day civics or CTE programs may have absences for such programs excused with proof of attendance.
(d) Nothing in this section shall prevent schools from requiring students to complete schoolwork missed due to an excused absence.
(e) Except as provided under paragraph III(b), students seeking more than 2 excused absences per academic year for ongoing participation in the same civic or CTE activity shall enroll in an extended learning opportunity. All absences to engage in an extended learning opportunity plan approved by the student’s school shall be excused, contingent on the student completing any schoolwork missed.
IV. Schools may require students provide evidence of attendance of the activity they claim participation in to verify the justification of the absence. Such evidence may include:
(a) A form created by the school and signed by an official of the activity, such as a New Hampshire house or senate committee clerk or other government staffer, or event official; or
(b) A letter of excusal signed by a government or event official.
V. In addition to the requirements outlined in paragraph III, parents shall submit a notice to school administrators no less than two school days before their student intends to be absent to attend a civic or CTE event, with the exception of election days.
2 New Paragraph; Duties of the State Board of Education. Amend RSA 186:11 by inserting after paragraph XXXVII the following new paragraph:
XXXVIII. Civic and Career Technical Education. The state board of education shall develop and maintain rules pursuant to RSA 193:1-d civic and CTE events, such as testifying on legislation; serving on membership on statutory or executive New Hampshire youth advisory councils; and attending local government meetings or hearings, to count as alternative academic credit in public, public charter, and private secondary schools that serve as public schools under RSA 193:3, VII, including fulfillment of the civic education graduation requirement. In addition, the board shall develop and maintain a list of recognized career and technical education organizations that shall be used to determine if an absence shall be excused under RSA 193:1-d, II(b)(1). The initial list of recognized career and technical education organizations shall include, at minimum: 4-H; Future Farmers of America (FFA); Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA); SkillsUSA; Future Health Professionals (HOSA); DECA; and the Technology Student Association (TSA). This list shall be reviewed annually and shared with school administrators.
3 New Subparagraph; Change of School or Assignment; Best Interest of Student; Manifest Educational Hardship; Procedure for Appeals Modified. Amend RSA 193:3, II by inserting after subparagraph (g) the following new subparagraphs:
(1) Pursuant to this subparagraph, if the state board of education finds that the student has a manifest educational hardship, the state board of education shall grant the parent's or guardian's request to re-assign the student to another public school, public academy, or an approved private school within the district, or to a public school, public academy, or an approved private school in another district.
(2) The student shall be enrolled in the receiving public school, public academy, or approved private school, subject only to the limitations set forth in RSA 193:3, III-a(d) and the admission requirements described in RSA 193:3, III-a(f).
4 School Attendance; Legal Residence Required; Exceptions; Cross-Reference Added. Amend RSA 193:12, I to read as follows:
I. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall attend school, or send a pupil to the school, in any district of which the pupil is not a legal resident, without the consent of the district or of the school board except as otherwise provided in this section, RSA 193:3, or [in] RSA 193:28.
5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Feb. 4, 2026 | 2026-0396h |
| March 31, 2026 | 2026-1244s |
| April 28, 2026 | 2026-1729s |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 12, 2026 | House | Hearing |
| Jan. 12, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| Jan. 29, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
| April 7, 2026 | Senate | Hearing |
| April 7, 2026 | Senate | Hearing |
| April 7, 2026 | Senate | Hearing |
| May 7, 2026 | Senate | Floor Vote |
May 21, 2026: House Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1244s and 2026-1729s (Rep. Noble): MA DV 186-160 05/21/2026 HJ 14
May 7, 2026: OT3rdg; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
May 7, 2026: Ought to Pass with the Amendment on the Remainder of the Bill and the Effective Date; MA; VV; OT3rdg, 05/07/2026; SJ 11
May 7, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment on Sections 3; 4; and the Effective Date; MA; VV, 05/07/2026; SJ 11
May 7, 2026: The Chair ruled the Question Divisible; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
May 7, 2026: Sen. Prentiss Moved to divide the Question on Ought to Pass with Amendments with the first vote on Sections 3; 4; and the Effective Date and the second vote on the Remainder of the bill and the Effective Date; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
May 7, 2026: Committee Amendment # 2026-1729s, RC 14Y-8N, AA; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
April 28, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1729s, 05/07/2026, Vote 3-2; SC 17
March 31, 2026: Hearing: 04/07/2026, Map Room, SL, 09:55 am, on proposed non-germane amendment # 2026-1244s; SC 13
March 31, 2026: Hearing: 04/07/2026, Room Map Room, SL, 09:45 am; SC 13
March 31, 2026: Hearing: 04/07/2026, Room Map Room, SL, 09:45 am; SC 13
March 6, 2026: Introduced 03/05/2026 and Referred to Education; SJ 6
March 5, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-0396h: MA DV 200-149 03/05/2026 HJ 6
March 5, 2026: Amendment # 2026-0396h: AA VV 03/05/2026 HJ 6
Feb. 4, 2026: Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
Feb. 4, 2026: Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0396h 01/29/2026 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 9 P. 37
Feb. 4, 2026: Executive Session: 01/12/2026 10:15 am GP 232
Jan. 8, 2026: Public Hearing: 01/12/2026 10:15 am GP 232
Dec. 10, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Education Policy and Administration HJ 1 P. 26