NH House Testimony

HB1452

House · 2026 sessionBipartisanKilled in House

Parent-taught driver education option

AI

Allows the commissioner to waive the driver education course requirement for youth operator license applicants when a parent, guardian, or other responsible adult provides equivalent instruction and training.

relative to parent-taught driver education as an alternative to traditional driver education programs.

Motor VehiclesEducation - General

Status

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

Division of testimony

25 submissions
Support 4Oppose 21Neutral 0
Daniel RichardsonSupportNashua, NHfor MyselfJan 20, 2026

Absolutely NO. I use my passport quite nicely without subordinate bureaucracy demanding identity.

Alex HawkOpposeManchester, NHfor MyselfJan 20, 2026

We can't even get many adult drivers to follow existing laws as it is. We don't need just anyone giving 'lessons' on driver education. No thanks! Let's stick with traditional driver education programs that will ensure laws, rules, and regulations are taught adequately and accurately.

Nicolas IacovelliOpposeSalem, NHfor MyselfJan 20, 2026

I believe teens are safer when they are trained by certified driving instructors rather than relying only on parent-led instruction. Professional programs use proven methods to teach defensive driving, hazard awareness, and decision-making under pressure, which are key skills for reducing crashes among new drivers. Instructors are trained to correct risky habits early and to expose students to situations most parents cannot safely recreate, like emergency maneuvers, complex traffic patterns, and high-risk scenarios. Weakening this requirement puts not just young drivers at greater risk, but everyone who shares the road with them.

Elizabeth IacovelliOpposeSalem, NHfor MyselfJan 20, 2026

Professional driver education consistently leads to safer young drivers because it provides standardized, evidence-based training that parents—no matter how well-intentioned—are not equipped to replicate. Instructors are trained to teach defensive driving, hazard recognition, decision-making under pressure, and to correct dangerous habits early, using methods proven to reduce crashes among new drivers. Programs also expose teens to situations most parents cannot safely simulate, such as emergency braking, night driving risks, impaired-driver awareness, and complex traffic scenarios. Allowing this requirement to be waived weakens a system that is designed to protect not only young drivers, but everyone who shares the road with them.

Marlise BryantOpposeHollis, NHfor MyselfJan 20, 2026

This must be another free-stater bill. Say NO.

Susan MooreOpposeWhitefield, NHfor MyselfJan 20, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Lois CoteOpposeManchester, NHfor MyselfJan 20, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Debrah HowesOpposeBow, NHfor American Federation of Teachers - NHJan 20, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Barbara BryceOpposeGilsum, NHfor MyselfJan 20, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Barbara ZaengleinOpposeAmherst, NHfor MyselfJan 20, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Timothy FinneySupportBridgewater, NHfor Myselfflagged non-germaneJan 20, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Michael BryantOpposeHollis, NHfor MyselfJan 20, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Patricia PiscettaOpposeBelmont, NHfor MyselfJan 20, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Larisa TrexlerSupportStoddard, NHfor MyselfJan 20, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Mary TerrioOpposeHollis, NHfor MyselfJan 20, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Curtis HowlandSupportManchester, NHfor MyselfJan 20, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Katie McLaughlinOpposeWeare, NHfor MyselfJan 20, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Melanie KasparianOpposeHudson, NHfor MyselfJan 20, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Linda BurnapOpposeWolfeboro, NHfor MyselfJan 20, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Amy EricksonOpposeWOLFEBORO, NHfor MyselfJan 20, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Margaret KonzeOpposePembroke, NHfor MyselfJan 20, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Janet RobertsonOpposeGilford, NHfor MyselfJan 20, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Debra MerrickOpposeAtkinson, NHfor MyselfJan 20, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Eric ZaengleinOpposeAmherst, NHfor MyselfJan 20, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Francesca HeapOpposeRichmond, NHfor MyselfJan 20, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.