NH House Testimony

HB1816

House · 2026 sessionRepublicanSigned into law

School district financial emergency intervention

AI

Allows the commissioner of education to initiate and implement a district recovery plan when a school district's financial and operational condition is deemed a financial emergency and requires the state school board to establish rules for vetting business administrator candidates.

(New Title) relative to the intervention of the department of education into a school or school district during a financial emergency and requiring the state school board to establish rules governing the vetting of school district business administrator candidates.

Education - GeneralState Government

Status

Signed into law · July 16, 2026
  1. Introduced
  2. House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Division of testimony

143 submissions
Support 4Oppose 138Neutral 1
John PetitOpposeLitchfield, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

Please vote HB 1816 Inexpedient to Legislate. Focus on votes to ensure the State of New Hampshire meet its constitutional obligation to provide an adequate education. After that, then focus on fixing special education funding. No school district should spend 15% to 48% of its budget on special education costs. The state needs to meet those catastrophic costs... not property taxpayers. Thank you.

Rina PetitOpposeLitchfield, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

Please vote HB 1816 Inexpedient to Legislate. Focus on votes to ensure the State of New Hampshire meet its constitutional obligation to provide an adequate education. After that, then focus on fixing special education funding. No school district should spend 15% to 48% of its budget on special education costs. The state needs to meet those catastrophic costs... not property taxpayers. Thank you.

Catharine FarkasOpposeSanbornton, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

The state has no place in forcibly taking over our school districts and negating our votes. The citizens of the district are supposed to be in charge.

Gabriele LiebergOpposeNewfields, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

I strongly oppose this bill. I do not believe in state take-over of town or district management.

Linda TannerOpposeSunapee, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

The NHEd and DRA should assist and offer help to schools with fiscal issues but, a take over of schools is like the budget cap you keep trying to push through..it is against local control and community oversight for the public schools.. Solve the education funding issue, follow the court orders, stop the out of control vouchers and maybe public education in NH might once again thrive like it did before the war on public schools arrived.

Nancy JerauldOpposeLitchfield, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

Do not vote to allow the NH Department of Education to take over the operation of a school district. Parents and district tax payers must be included in decisions about their schools. Do something about adequate state funding of schools instead.

Mary CadwalladerOpposeHanover, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

Remember who pays the taxes; they should have some control.

Julie ZimmerOpposePeeterborough, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

This seems like unnecessary overreach. We have elected school boards who have resolved such problems for many years. Stay in your own lane, we need you there!!!

Donna TullyOpposeLittleton, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

I oppose this bill on principle for the good of NH school districts.

Sharon RacusinOpposeHanover, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

The department of education and the Governor have created a disaster for public schools. Now we should trust the department to intervene? No thanks. How about funding the schools and stop siphoning off the money for unaccountable religious institutions?

Joanne ScobieOpposeWest Lebanon, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

The Dept of Education should have no place in usurping the rights of local school districts.

Nancy MilesOpposeHanover, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

I'm opposed to this bill - It would allow the Dept. of Education to take over a school district and leave out communities and parents from any decision-making. Schools need to be under local control, but follow certain state regulations.

Shirley MontgomeryOpposeHanover, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

This bill would remove decision making from local parents and communities.

Joanne DavisOpposeConcord, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

Giving the Department of Education the authority to intervene in a school or school district during a financial emergency as well as the authority to require the school district to renegotiate its employment contracts and reallocate its resources would exclude parents and communities from decision making.

Hannah MeiselmanNeutralMachester, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

State intervention may be necessary in genuine financial emergencies to protect students’ access to education, but it must be narrowly tailored, transparent, and respectful of local governance and community input.

Priscilla DubeOpposeConcord, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

No State takeovers of local school districts, and no State power over local contracts!

Alison WilderOpposeKeene, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

I can't believe I have to say this in the State of New Hampshire, but: stop stripping away local power! It's what makes this state great.

Bridget PowersOpposePlymouth, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

Timothy FinneyOpposeBridgewater, NHfor Myselfflagged non-germaneJan 27, 2026

This is unconstitutional, according to a recent press release from the Secretary of State. An error appears in Part II, Article 83, of the NH State Constitution where the word “or” was mistakenly replaced with “of” in many printed and online versions over the past several decades. That small change materially alters the meaning of a clause that limits how state tax dollars may be used.

Kathleen MalsbendenOpposeNewmarket, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

I strongly oppose HB 1816. This bill allows the state to step in and take control of local school districts after years of underfunding them. The Legislature creates the financial crisis, shifts costs to local property taxpayers, and then uses that crisis as justification for intervention rather than meeting its constitutional obligation to fund public education.

Ann GehringOpposeSanbornville, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Catherine MillerOpposeFranconia, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

CARA CABRALOpposeMADBURY, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Regan LamphierOpposeNashua, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Ashley LambOpposeDurham, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.