Repeals the statutory provision in which the legislature had declared its authority over public education.
repealing the legislature's declaration of authority over public education.
HB1456 would repeal a 2025 statutory declaration that the legislature has final authority over education policy and funding. Most submitters support repeal, arguing the declaration was an improper attempt by the legislature to shield itself from NH Supreme Court review of education funding and that the state has chronically underfunded schools, burdening local property taxpayers; a small number oppose repeal, arguing the legislature needs clear statutory authority over education and that courts should not dictate education policy.
Supporters argue the 2025 declaration improperly asserted the legislature is not bound by NH Supreme Court rulings on education, undermining separation of powers, and that repealing it restores proper judicial review.
“I highly support this bill, repealing a section of the 2025 budget trailer bill where the Republican majority of our legislature essentially tells the New Hampshire Supreme Court they don't have to listen to them or our state's Constitution.”
— James Hiltz, Pembroke · #645428 — read full submission →
“If the NH Supreme Court’s decisions aren’t considered binding on the legislature (including when the legislature doesn’t like them), we’ve entered an era of unfettered legislative power that the founders intended to protect against”
— Mary Wilke, CONCORD · #648330 — read full submission →
Supporters argue the state has failed to meet its constitutional duty to adequately fund public education, forcing local communities to rely on rising property taxes, and that repeal is a step toward accountability.
“This year, our school lost nearly $300,000 in state funding for the upcoming budget cycle. The impact of this loss is immediate and profound. Our community’s residents are now facing a tax increase that is beyond many families’ capacity to afford.”
— Amber Kingsbury, Wentworth · #651010 — read full submission →
“By ignoring the NH Supreme Court's decisions for 30+ years, the Legislature has imposed the most burdensome property taxes on the people of New Hampshire. Time to make it right!”
— Marie Nardino, Andover · #651503 — read full submission →
Some supporters emphasize the bill is a technical, symbolic correction that does not alter funding, curriculum, or local control, merely removing an unnecessary statutory statement of authority.
“This bill does not alter education policy or diminish the Legislature’s constitutional role. It simply repeals a recent statutory “declaration of authority” that was unnecessary.”
— Timothy Swaan, N. Haverhill · #650515 — read full submission →
“This bill does not cut funding or change school operations. It simply removes unnecessary language and keeps our education governance grounded in the Constitution.”
— Kathleen Malsbenden, Newmarket · #646431 — read full submission →
Supporters argue public education is foundational to democracy and the economy and that the state should prioritize investing in schools rather than asserting control over them.
“Public education is foundational to our self-governing democracy and ensuring an educated electorate. It’s also what has brought our country economic prosperity again and again!”
— Jennifer Siegrist, Milford · #650900 — read full submission →
“Public education is important for our children, our businesses, our economy and our future.”
— Debora Hatcher, Dover · #644655 — read full submission →
A smaller number of supporters frame the repeal as returning decision-making power over schools to local communities rather than the state legislature.
“The legislative branch needs to stay in its lane, and repeals its declaration of authority over public education.”
— Tom Burgess, Peterborough · #650558 — read full submission →
“HB1456 is a commitment to putting the power of decision-making back where it belongs: in the hands of our communities.”
— Kristen BANNISTER, Manchester · #646920 — read full submission →
Opponents argue the statutory declaration is necessary to keep schools accountable to citizens and taxpayers, and to give the state power to restrict curricula some consider objectionable.
An opponent argues that elected legislators, not judges, should have final say over public education matters.
An opponent argues the statute the bill purports to repeal could not be located or verified, undermining confidence in what the bill actually does.
Generated by claude-sonnet-5 (claude code agent) on Jul 22, 2026. Quotes are verbatim excerpts, verified against the cited submission before publication. Summaries are AI interpretation of the record, not part of it.
A legislature that abandons our future should be held accountable by the state's checks and balances. The role of the Judiciary is to interpret the law in both precedent and limits. I support this bill.
I fully support this bill. Thank you!
I support this bill. The state has a duty to provide an adequate education for ALL students and to abide by court rulings requiring this.
By ignoring the NH Supreme Court's decisions for 30+ years, the Legislature has imposed the most burdensome property taxes on the people of New Hampshire. Time to make it right!
I strongly support HB1456 because it repeals an unnecessary statement inserted in the budget broadly asserting the legislature’s authority over public education. I urge the Judiciary Committee to support HB1456 as well. Thank you.
I support HB1456 because it repeals an unnecessary statement inserted in the budget broadly asserting the legislature’s authority over public education. I urge the Judiciary Committee to support HB1456 as well. Thank you.
?TO: House Judiciary Committee FROM: Rep. Terry W. Roy, Chair of Criminal Justice and Public Safety RE: Opposition to HB 1456 – Maintaining Legislative Authority Over Public Education DATE: February 25, 2026 ?Chairman Lynn and Members of the Judiciary Committee, ?I am writing to express my strong opposition to HB 1456. This bill seeks to repeal the legislature’s declaration of authority over public education—a statutory affirmation that is essential for ensuring that New Hampshire’s schools remain accountable to the citizens and the taxpayers who fund them. ?As Chair of the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, I am acutely aware of the importance of maintaining clear jurisdictional boundaries. When we passed the declaration of authority last year, we did so to ensure that the State has the power to protect our students from curricula that are increasingly being used to promote DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) and other ideological concepts that many Granite Staters find fundamentally un-American. Without this legislative oversight, we effectively hand over the keys of our education system to local officials who may prioritize social engineering over traditional academic excellence. ?Furthermore, we cannot ignore the fiscal reality. We are seeing a troubling pattern where local education officials implement expansive, high-cost programs and then demand that the State cover the bill. Authority and responsibility must go hand-in-hand. If the State is expected to provide the funding, the State must maintain the authority to set standards and ensure those funds are spent on core educational priorities, not ideological extras. ?Repealing this declaration would be a retreat from our duty to the parents and taxpayers of New Hampshire. It would embolden those who wish to move education away from the "Live Free or Die" values we hold dear and further burden the state’s budget with unaccountable local spending. ?I respectfully urge the committee to vote Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL) on HB 1456. Respectfully submitted, Rep. Terry W. Roy State Representative, Rockingham 31 Chair, House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee
It’s time we stopped screwing over property tax payers, and started fully funding our public schools as we are constitutionally required to do.
We need to fully fund public education and stop screwing over our children.
The state needs to be held accountable for school adequacy funding. Public school is crumbling in our state, and we need to fight for it as an important piece of school choice. If you do not have a strong public school system, you have no real choice for your children.
The "public needs" to have a say in pubic education.
I support this Bill.
Stop wasting our time and money and fulfill your responsibilities to our students!
This bill is very important for us. I want it passed
Do the right thing!
The State must meet its school funding obligations. Using only local property taxes to fund schools is over-burdening the poor and elderly … AND the middle class!
My name is Amber Kingsbury, and I am writing in support of HB1456. For the past 23 years, I have been a teacher at a rural village school, and I now serve as a co-principal. Over those two decades, I have watched our school community work tirelessly to provide a safe, stable, and high-quality education for our students—often with limited resources but an unwavering commitment to children. This year, our school lost nearly $300,000 in state funding for the upcoming budget cycle. The impact of this loss is immediate and profound. Our community’s residents are now facing a tax increase that is beyond many families’ capacity to afford. These are hardworking people who care deeply about their school but are already stretched thin. This is also a population of many senior citizens on fixed incomes. Without meaningful action, our school faces cuts that would cripple our ability to operate. Essential staffing, student supports, and core programming are at risk. The conversation has shifted from “what do we reduce” to the very real possibility of whether our school can remain open at all. The potential shutdown of a community school is not just a financial decision—it is a decision that affects children’s stability, families’ connection to their town, and the long-term vitality of rural communities. HB1456 represents an important step toward addressing inequities in school funding and providing communities like ours with a fair chance to sustain local education. Our students deserve access to the same opportunities as those in better-resourced districts, regardless of their zip code or local tax base. I urge you to support HB1456 so schools like ours can continue to serve students, support families, and remain the heart of our communities. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Amber Kingsbury Co-Principal and Educator
Protect our Constitutional checks and balances on power by supporting HB1456.
Dear Judiciary Committee, Please support and pass HB 1456 and make sure that the legislature finally follows the multiple court rulings to take up the matter of chronic public education underfunding. Please do not allow the legislature to yet again ignore this issue that still directly and negatively affects 87% of your NH constituent students whose parents still choose to send them to public schools. Public education is foundational to our self-governing democracy and ensuring an educated electorate. It’s also what has brought our country economic prosperity again and again! Follow the law, follow the constitution, and please support public education with much more adequate funding. It’s an investment in our country’s future that’s worth making. Thank you.
I support this bill to make the state accountable to court findings and adequately funding education
Education is one of the MOST important things we can give our children. Why prevent it? Why defund it? Our future literally relies on it. This bill enables potentially more funding to support our future doctors, nurses, scientists, teachers and researchers. Why deny the right to learn when we need to continue to advance and build as our environment and illnesses etc change? Please support this bill.
It is a state’s duty to properly educate its young citizens so they can grow up into productive, thoughtful adults. I know Republicans and Free Staters want to keep people dumb so they’ll believe whatever slop they’re fed. Let’s do better in NH.
The Legislature needs to abide by the NH Supreme Court's decision otherwise what power does it have?
The state of New Hampshire has been grossly negligent when it comes to funding our public education. Pay your fair share and ease the burden on your constituents!
NH residents continue to see higher school tax rates every year while experiencing dwindling funds from the state. This inequity in funding is nothing new. I have grandchildren in their 20’s now and it was an issue when my children were school aged. Also, the lack of full funding for sped from the federal government is causing a major backlash towards our children with disabilities and their families. Please petition our federal government for funding. We cannot go backwards to institutions for the disabled. Laconia State School taught us that. Thank you.