SB 588-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2026 SESSION
26-2188
12/09
SENATE BILL 588-FN
SPONSORS: Sen. Innis, Dist 7; Sen. Murphy, Dist 16; Sen. Ward, Dist 8; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Rep. Noble, Hills. 2
COMMITTEE: Election Law and Municipal Affairs
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires that voters residing in all municipalities that are served by a school district vote on the closure of schools. This bill also requires school boards to hold a public meeting for such vote, with the same procedure applying to both single district and cooperative school districts.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-2188
12/09
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; Discontinuance of Schools. Amend RSA 194 by inserting after section 19-a the following new section:
194:19-b Discontinuance of Schools. No elementary school, as defined in RSA 189:25, or high school, as defined in RSA 194:23, shall be discontinued, or the location thereof be changed, except by a majority vote of voters residing in all municipalities that are served by the school or district. Upon written petition to the school board by 20 or more legal voters of the towns or district in which such elementary or high school is located, the school board or cooperative school board shall hold an open public meeting for the purpose of voting on the question of discontinuance of the elementary or high school. Notice of the meeting shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation at least 7 days before the meeting. Voting shall be by ballot with the use of a checklist, after reasonable opportunity for public comment in an open public meeting, as defined in RSA 189:74. The question on the ballot shall be in substantially the following form:
"Shall the school district authorize the discontinuation of ________ school, ceasing the school's operation?" Yes ____ No ______
I. If a majority of voters present and voting vote in the affirmative for the discontinuation of an elementary or high school, then the elementary or high school shall be closed by the district effective no later than one day prior to the start of the following school year.
II. If a majority of voters present and voting vote in the negative for the discontinuation of an elementary or high school, then the elementary or high school shall continue to operate.
III. A separate ballot shall be required where more than one elementary school or high school closure is being voted on at the same meeting.
2 Repeal. RSA 194:35, relative to the discontinuance of high schools, is repealed.
3 New Section; School Closures. Amend RSA 195 by inserting after section 10 the following new section:
195:10-a School Closures. All cooperative school districts shall comply with the requirements of RSA 194:19-b relative to the closure of elementary and high schools.
I. For the purposes of this section:
(a) Elementary schools are the same as defined in RSA 189:25.
(b) High schools are the same as defined in RSA 194:23.
II. It shall be prohibited for any cooperative school district articles of agreement to circumvent the requirements of RSA 194:19-b.
4 Applicability. Upon passage of this act all cooperative school district articles of agreement that presently violate the requirements of RSA 194:19-b shall be amended to comply with said section.
5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
26-2188
11/18/25
SB 588-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT requiring that all municipalities that are served by a school district vote on the closure of schools.
FISCAL IMPACT:
| ||||
Estimated Political Subdivision Impact | ||||
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 |
County Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
County Expenditures | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Local Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Local Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable Increase | ||
METHODOLOGY:
The bill requires voters of all towns served by a school district to vote on closing any school. It also requires school boards to hold a public meeting for the vote, using the same process for both single district and cooperative districts.
Local school districts would be responsible for providing notice and managing related procedures in the event of a public meeting for the vote of a school closure. If a school within the district is closed, the district may incur additional expenses.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
None
Nov. 25, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 1