Revision: March 12, 2026, 3:02 p.m.
HB 1817-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
11Mar2026... 0911h
2026 SESSION
26-2861
07/09
HOUSE BILL 1817-FN
AN ACT relative to access to curricular courses and cocurricular programs within school districts.
SPONSORS: Rep. McDonnell, Rock. 25; Rep. P. Brown, Rock. 14; Rep. Kuttab, Rock. 17; Rep. Morse, Merr. 3; Rep. Hill, Merr. 2; Rep. Thibault, Merr. 25
COMMITTEE: Education Policy and Administration
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill expands access to curricular courses and cocurricular programs within school districts for education freedom account students.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.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... 0911h 26-2861
07/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT relative to access to curricular courses and cocurricular programs within school districts.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Education; School Attendance; Access to Public School Programs by Nonpublic, Public Chartered Schools or Home Educated Pupils. Amend RSA 193:1-c to read as follows:
193:1-c Access to Public School Programs by Nonpublic, Public Chartered [Schools] School, Education Freedom Account, or Home Educated Pupils.
I. Nonpublic, public chartered school, education freedom account, or home educated pupils shall have access to curricular courses and cocurricular programs offered by the school district in which the pupil resides, including the statewide assessment and preliminary scholastic aptitude test (PSAT). The local school board shall adopt a policy regulating participation in curricular courses and cocurricular programs[, provided that such]. Such policy shall not be more restrictive for non-public, public chartered school, education freedom account, or home educated pupils than the policy governing the school district's resident pupils. In this section, "cocurricular" shall include those activities which are designed to supplement and enrich regular academic programs of study, provide opportunities for social development, and encourage participation in clubs, athletics, performing groups, and service to school and community. For purposes of allowing access as described in this section, a "home educated pupil" includes any pupil who is a "child with a disability" under RSA 186-C:2, I, until such time as such pupil has acquired a high school diploma or reached age 21 inclusive; but shall not include any other pupil who has graduated from a high school level program of home education, or its equivalent, or has attained the age of 21.
II. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a parent to establish a home education program which exceeds the requirements of RSA 193:1 or RSA 193-A.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
26-2861
12/16/25
HB 1817-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT permitting all students the choice to attend the school district in which they reside.
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 Education. The Department was initially contacted on 11/20/25 for a fiscal note worksheet, with follow-up contact made on 12/5/25. When completed, the fiscal note will be forwarded to the House Clerk's Office.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Education