HB 1781-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2026 SESSION
26-3075
09/08
HOUSE BILL 1781-FN
AN ACT relative to child support obligations during postsecondary education.
SPONSORS: Rep. Burton, Straf. 10
COMMITTEE: Education Funding
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ANALYSIS
This bill extends parental child support obligations to potentially include payment for post-high school education, including college tuition.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-3075
09/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT relative to child support obligations during postsecondary education.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Parental Rights and Responsibilities; Support. Amend RSA 461-A:14, IV to read as follows:
IV. The amount of a child support obligation shall remain as stated in the order until the dependent child for whom support is ordered marries, or becomes a member of the armed services, or is emancipated pursuant to an order of emancipation under RSA 461-B, or reaches the age of 18 years, unless the child is still a full-time student at a secondary or elementary school, charter school, [or] a home education program in conformity with RSA 193-A at the age of 18, or college or other post-secondary education, subject to paragraph V, then child support shall continue until the child graduates or until [2 months after] the child reaches the age of [19] 22, whichever is first, at which time the child support obligation, including all educational support obligations, shall terminate without further legal action. If the parties have a child with disabilities, the court may initiate or continue the child support obligation after the child reaches the age of 18. No child support order for a child with disabilities which becomes effective after July 9, 2013 may continue after the child reaches age 21 or no longer qualifies as a child with a disability, as defined in RSA 186-C:2, I, who is receiving special education or special education and related services as identified by the child's school district.
2 Parental Rights and Responsibilities; Support. Amend RSA 461-A:14, V to read as follows:
V. No child support order shall require a parent to contribute to an adult child's [college expenses or other] educational expenses beyond the completion of [high school] college, except as provided in RSA 461-A:21.
3 Parental Rights and Responsibilities; Agreement on Post-College Expenses. Amend RSA 461-A:21 to read as follows:
461-A:21 Agreement on Post-College Expenses. Parents may agree to contribute to their child's post-college educational expenses or other educational expenses beyond the completion of [high school] college as part of a stipulated decree, signed by both parents and approved by the court. The agreed-on contribution may be made by one or both parents. The agreement may provide for contributions to an account to save for [college] educational expenses, for the use of an asset, or for payment of educational expenses as incurred. Any such agreement shall specify the amount of the contribution, a percentage, or a formula to determine the amount of the contribution.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.
26-3075
12/16/25
HB 1781-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT relative to child support obligations during postsecondary education.
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 Health and Human Services. The Department was initially contacted on 11/18/25 for a fiscal note worksheet, with follow-up contact made on 12/11/25. When completed, the fiscal note will be forwarded to the House Clerk's Office.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Health and Human Services
Dec. 17, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Education Funding HJ 1