NH House Testimony

HB1182

House · 2026 sessionRepublicanKilled in House

Renaming educator emergency certification term

AI

Renames the 'one-year certificate of eligibility' for non-credentialed educators as an 'emergency authorization.'

modifying the term "one-year certificate of eligibility" to "emergency authorization" relative to persons not possessing an educator credential.

Education - GeneralOccupational Regulation

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 5, 2026
  1. Introduced
  2. House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Division of testimony

37 submissions
Support 4Oppose 33Neutral 0
Hannah MeiselmanOpposeManchester, NHfor MyselfFeb 4, 2026

I am concerned HB1182 could normalize under-credentialed teaching positions rather than investing in sustainable solutions like competitive pay, training, and retention supports for qualified educators

Steve SnidermanOpposeKensington, NHfor MyselfFeb 4, 2026

I have personally lived through outbreaks of Measles and Polio in my family. These avoidable diseases have maimed siblings and shortened the lives of a close friend. In both cases, the parents did not immunize their children for "religious reasons". The result was a situation that endangered both their own children and those around them. The only thing that saved the rest of us from it becoming a major outbreak was the fact that most of us had received this new thing called immunization shots. I remember we were overjoyed when some was given via a sugar cube. To think we want to go back to those days of misery and sadness is appalling to me. I strongly oppose this legislation as it places all of us, our children, and our grandchildren in great danger.

Stephanie SawyerSupportLoudon, NHfor MyselfFeb 4, 2026

Freedom of choice! It is a parent’s choice not to vaccinate their child, allow them to make that choice. God made our bodies to heal if given the correct nutrients. Let those who want to fill their children with poison do so if that makes them feel protected. But don’t force others who do not. God is good!!

Donna TullyOpposeLittleton, NHfor MyselfFeb 4, 2026

I vote this way for the sake of NH voters.

Timothy SwaanOpposeNorth Haverhill, NHfor MyselfFeb 4, 2026

Chair and Members of the Committee, I respectfully urge caution and opposition to HB 1182. Although this bill appears to make a simple terminology change, it has real practical consequences for how districts plan, staff, and prioritize their workforce. Changing “one-year certificate of eligibility” to “emergency authorization” reframes a temporary exception as an expected condition. The unintended result is this: districts under budget and staffing pressure are more likely to plan around emergency authorizations rather than invest in recruiting, retaining, and supporting credentialed teachers. Over time, what was meant to be a short-term bridge becomes a routine staffing strategy. That leads to higher turnover, greater instructional inconsistency for students, and increased supervisory and training burdens for administrators. This bill also removes an important signal of intent. “Certificate of eligibility” implies progression toward licensure. “Emergency authorization” implies indefinite crisis management. HB 1182 does nothing to require progress toward certification, does not limit repeated reliance across a district, and does not require reporting to the legislature. As a result, lawmakers would have no visibility into whether emergency authorizations remain rare or quietly become standard practice. At a time when teaching is already a harder profession to enter and stay in, this change risks lowering long-term workforce quality without addressing the underlying causes of shortages: compensation, workload, and retention. Flexibility has a place. But flexibility without guardrails becomes policy by default. For these reasons, I urge the committee to either recommend HB 1182 as Inexpedient to Legislate or amend it to clearly reaffirm that these authorizations are temporary, exceptional, and paired with accountability and pathways toward credentialing. Thank you for your consideration.

Beth EdwardsOpposeLisbon, NHfor MyselfFeb 4, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Susan MooreOpposeWhitefield, NHfor MyselfFeb 4, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Leigh HutchinsonOpposeDerry, NHfor MyselfFeb 4, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Stephen MonseinOpposeSugar Hill, NHfor MyselfFeb 4, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Marilyn MonseinOpposeSugar Hill, NHfor MyselfFeb 4, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Deborah FexisOpposeNOTTINGHAM, NHfor MyselfFeb 4, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Lois CoteOpposeManchester, NHfor MyselfFeb 4, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Megan StaplesOpposeHooksett, NHfor MyselfFeb 4, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Katherine DecatoSupportAntrim, NHfor MyselfFeb 4, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Justin TessierSupportSeabrook, NHfor MyselfFeb 4, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Stephanie VazzanoOpposeConcord, NHfor MyselfFeb 4, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Karolyn CampbellOpposeEpsom, NHfor MyselfFeb 4, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

James MooreOpposeWhitefield, NHfor MyselfFeb 4, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Marilyn DeansOpposeHillsborough, NHfor MyselfFeb 4, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Danielle AlleyOpposeDover, NHfor MyselfFeb 4, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Barbara LangworthyOpposeFranconia NH, NHfor MyselfFeb 4, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Barbara BryceOpposeGilsum, NHfor MyselfFeb 4, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Katherine RemeschOpposeHollis, NHfor MyselfFeb 4, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Priscilla DubeOpposeConcord, NHfor MyselfFeb 4, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Kathy SpielmanOpposeDurham, NHfor MyselfFeb 4, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.