CHAPTER 313
HB 1816-FN - FINAL VERSION
11Mar2026... 0983h
05/07/2026 1636s
4Jun2026... 2064CofC
2026 SESSION
26-2410
07/08
HOUSE BILL 1816-FN
SPONSORS: Rep. Ladd, Graf. 5; Rep. Spilsbury, Sull. 3; Rep. Popovici-Muller, Rock. 17; Rep. Peeples, Hills. 14; Rep. Kofalt, Hills. 32; Sen. Ward, Dist 8; Sen. Innis, Dist 7
COMMITTEE: Education Funding
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill:
I. Allows the commissioner of the department of education to initiate and implement a district recovery plan if a school district's financial and operational condition is deemed a financial emergency by the state board of education.
II. Requires the state school board to establish rules governing the vetting of school district business administrator candidates and monitoring the work of business administrators.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
11Mar2026... 0983h
05/07/2026 1636s
4Jun2026... 2064CofC 26-2410
07/08
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:
313:1 New Sections; The State School Organization; State Board of Education; State Board Powers and Duties. Amend RSA 186 by inserting after section 5 the following new sections:
186:5-a Financial Emergency Powers of the State Board.
I. Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit either the department of education or the state board of education to take control of the daily operations of any local public school district or school, unless the financial and operational condition of the local public school district or school is deemed a financial emergency by the state board of education necessitating department intervention and oversight. In such an emergency, the commissioner of the department of education shall have authority to assist the school district or school in developing a recovery plan and to oversee such plan to leverage resources to address core financial needs. The recovery plan may consider:
(a) Altering administrative practices and operating conditions;
(b) Reallocating school district or school resources;
(c) Renegotiating contracts and agreements; and
(d) Department oversight of school district or school governance, organizational structure, and/or administrative services identified in RSA 194-C:4, II for up to one year.
II. For purposes of this section, "school in financial emergency" or "school district in financial emergency" necessitates that immediate oversight providing corrective and technical assistance by the department is imperative for the school district or school to meet its financial, operational, and instructional responsibilities for all school-age children. The state board of education shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to implementing corrective and technical assistance to a school district or school in a state of financial emergency.
III. The department of education may request up to $200,000 from the education trust fund into a nonlapsing reserve fund for the purpose of corrective and technical assistance necessary to implement a district financial emergency recovery plan pursuant to this section.
186:5-b Conduct for School Business Administrators.
I. The state board of education shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A that establish recommended procedures for school districts to follow for vetting school district business administrator candidates and monitoring the work of business administrators.
II. School business administrators shall practice the principles identified in the New Hampshire code of conduct and ethics for educational professionals.
313:2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.
Approved: July 10, 2026
Effective Date: January 01, 2027
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| March 4, 2026 | 2026-0983h |
| April 22, 2026 | 2026-1636s |
| May 26, 2026 | 2026-2064CofC |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 27, 2026 | House | Hearing |
| Feb. 18, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| March 3, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| March 2, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
| April 1, 2026 | Senate | Hearing |
| Senate | Floor Vote | |
| June 4, 2026 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| June 4, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
| June 4, 2026 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| June 4, 2026 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| June 4, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
July 16, 2026: Signed by Governor Ayotte 07/10/2026; Chapter 313; eff. 1/1/2027
July 1, 2026: Enrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026
June 30, 2026: Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 15
June 4, 2026: Conference Committee Report 2026-2064c: Adopted, VV 06/04/2026 HJ 15
June 4, 2026: Conference Committee Report # 2026-2064c, Adopted, VV; 06/04/2026; SJ 14
June 4, 2026: Conference Committee Report # 2026-2064c, Adopted, VV; 06/04/2026; SJ 14
June 4, 2026: Conference Committee Report 2026-2064c: Adopted, VV 06/04/2026 HJ 15
May 28, 2026: Conference Committee Report Filed, # 2026-2064c; 06/04/2026
May 28, 2026: Conferee Change; Senator Birdsell Replaces Senator Altschiller; SJ 14
May 26, 2026: Conference Committee Meeting: 05/26/2026 12:00 pm GP 234
May 20, 2026: President Appoints: Senators Murphy, Ward, Altschiller; (In Recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
May 20, 2026: Sen. Murphy Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; (In recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
May 18, 2026: Speaker Appoints: Reps. Ladd, Spilsbury, Osborne, Luneau 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 147
May 18, 2026: House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1636s and Requests CofC (Rep. Ladd): MA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 147
May 7, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1636s, RC 14Y-8N, MA; OT3rdg; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
May 7, 2026: Committee Amendment # 2026-1636s, AA, VV; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
April 23, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1636s, 05/07/2026, Vote 4-2; SC 17
March 26, 2026: Hearing: 04/01/2026, Room 100, SH, 01:30 pm; SC 12
March 17, 2026: Introduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Education Finance; SJ 7
March 11, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-0983h: MA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 19
March 11, 2026: Amendment # 2026-0983h: AA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 19
March 4, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0983h 03/02/2026 (Vote 18-0; CC) HC 10 P. 12
Feb. 18, 2026: ==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 03/03/2026 01:00 pm GP 232
Feb. 11, 2026: ==RECESSED== Executive Session: 02/18/2026 10:00 am GP 234
Jan. 13, 2026: ==ROOM CHANGE== Public Hearing: 01/27/2026 11:00 am GP 234
Dec. 18, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Education Funding HJ 1 P. 37