Authorizes hearing officers at the department of education to issue subpoenas for witnesses and documents when investigating alleged violations of the educator code of conduct.
relative to authorizing hearing officers of the department of education to issue subpoenas.
House Bill 520 would authorize hearing officers of the New Hampshire Department of Education to issue subpoenas during investigations of alleged violations of the educator code of conduct. The overwhelming majority of submissions oppose the bill, arguing it is an unnecessary expansion of power that could be used to intimidate or politically target educators, particularly given distrust of Commissioner Edelblut, while a smaller number of submissions support it as a tool to improve oversight and accountability, especially for parents pursuing special-education disputes.
A submitter argues the current lack of subpoena power leaves parents, especially those pursuing special-education due process cases without legal representation, unable to compel schools to provide needed information.
Many submitters argue the Commissioner has a track record of adversarial, politically motivated actions against public education and cannot be trusted with subpoena power, warning it could be used to advance a culture-war agenda or for political retaliation against educators.
“We know Commissioner Edelblut has used the code of conduct as a weapon in his efforts to further a culture war agenda.”
— Sue Hannan, DERRY · #464707 — read full submission →
“This commissioner has gone out of his way to create a negative relationship with New Hampshire public school educators… We simply do not trust him with the power of a subpoena - especially with the limited checks contained in this bill.”
— Amy Agostino, Londonderry · #500541 — read full submission →
Submitters argue the bill would create fear, a 'police state' atmosphere, and a chilling effect for teachers, adding stress to an already difficult profession and worsening teacher retention.
“I believe that this would cause a panicked mindset for the staff in schools, and they would fear being brought to court.”
— Alicia Bhardwaj, Wolfeboro · #464282 — read full submission →
“I strongly oppose this bill. We do not need to be policing teachers and we do not need to be acting as a police state instead of the democracy we are.”
— Meg Whittle, Keene · #475863 — read full submission →
Submitters contend the Department of Education has never shown it was unable to obtain needed information through existing processes, making the new authority a solution in search of a problem.
“the Department of Education has never demonstrated a legitimate need for this authority. The existing process has functioned effectively without it, and no evidence has been presented showing that the Department has been unable to obtain necessary information in an investigation.”
— Jeff Giles, Keene · #465300 — read full submission →
“This subpoena authority is unnecessary because the Department has never demonstrated a situation where they have not been able to obtain information needed for an investigation under the educator code of conduct.”
— White Laura, Spofford · #463500 — read full submission →
Submitters argue subpoena authority is properly reserved for the judiciary or Department of Justice and is inappropriate for an education agency without legal training or background.
“Subpoena power is used for criminal investigations as well as in civil disputes in litigation. It is wholly inappropriate in the education sphere. (Yes, I am a lawyer.)”
— Sandra Van de Kauter, Keene · #478588 — read full submission →
“Subpoena powers are the purview of the courts. The Commissioner of Education and the Board of Education should be focused on strengthening public education and adequate public education funding”
— Karen Sebastian, West Chesterfield · #493921 — read full submission →
Submitters express concern that the bill gives subpoena authority to a single appointed official with insufficient oversight or checks on how the power is used.
“This bill would empower one person, with no oversight, to issue subpoenas to educators. I urge you to vote against this bill.”
— Francesca Heap, Richmond · #493434 — read full submission →
“Authorizing the Department of Education hearing officers to issue subpoenas grants excessive power without sufficient oversight, especially considering the lack of checks in the bill.”
— Michelle Stith, Windham · #494089 — read full submission →
Some submitters connect the bill to a broader pattern of targeting transgender or LGBTQ-related classroom content and books, framing the subpoena power as a tool for censorship or discrimination.
“The state should not be banning books! Schools, teachers, and parents are in the besy position to decide what is appropriate and to have meaningful conversations and teachable moments with students.”
— Diane Root, Wolfeboro · #495540 — read full submission →
“This is a blatant anti-trans bill.”
— Kaylee Rowell, Newmarket · #467635 — read full submission →
Submitters argue that educator conduct issues are already properly handled by principals, superintendents, and local school boards, and that state-level subpoena power oversteps local authority.
“In New Hampshire we pride ourselves on local control. If a principal is evaluating the teachers, they are the ones to judge what teachers teach. If the principal sees a problem it goes up the chain of command to the superintendent and then the school board.”
— Nancy Ancharski, Keene · #479111 — read full submission →
“There is no reason to override the individual line of command for personnel issues at the school district level.”
— Gabriele Lieberg, Newfields · #478221 — read full submission →
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.
As one NH teachers' union said: This commissioner has gone out of his way to create a negative relationship with New Hampshire public school educators… We simply do not trust him with the power of a subpoena - especially with the limited checks contained in this bill.
The Republican support for this bill - and so many others this session - is indicative of their disdain for public education. If the current requirements for school administrators are not enough, the Justice Department would push even more work onto the Department of Education. It would also give the Department of Education purview in a field they have no experience with: investigation. Let schools and local law enforcement handle the infrequent instances of questionable behavior by school personnel.
The office of the consumer advocate is vital to protecting the consumers of New Hampshire. As we have seen time and time again, corporations are out for profits at the expense of the consumer. We need to keep departments that advocate for consumer rights.
Once again Commissioner Edelblute is seeking to expand his authority. This bill is designed to intimidate and if passed would represent legislative overreach. Vote to OPPOSE this bill.
This bill is a radical infringement of personal human rights. We're not Russia!
We do not want New Hampshire to become like Russia where neighbors report on neighbors and free speech is not honored.
This bill is counter to the ideal and spirit of liberty in New Hampshire. I oppose this measure.
I oppose this bill because I do not understand why the commissioner of education should have subpoena power. If it was necessary to acquire documents or testimony in a court case, it would be possible for the Department of Education to request that a judge issue a subpoena. It seems very plausible that this power could be used to advance personal or political grievances, and therefore I believe that it would be better for it to remain as a power held by the courts.
This bill circumvents the Dept of Justice to give outsized power to the Dept of Education - expressely the current commissioner of Education.
I oppose this bill because the education commissioner has shown he intends to use his office for political ends rather than serving the education system of New Hampshire in an unbiased way. Giving the commissioner subpoena power is unnecessary and unwarranted.
This bill is meant to intimidate.
Giving Edelblut, who hates public education and teachers, the power of subpoena is a terrible idea. This is an abuse of power that is also outside of the legal boundaries of the Department of Education.
I oppose this bill This is giving too much power to the department of Education. I don't trust the commissioner since he is so anti public schools.
I strongly oppose this bill. The Dept of Ed has no business issuing subpeonas.
Leave subpoenas in the hands of the Department of Justice. There is no need for the department of education to have that power.
This could lead to intimidation and punishment of teachers if there were ideologues bent on imposing their will on the system. This could lead to political based retribution against teachers.
The amount of absurdity that you put in this bill is incomprehensible. You are not focusing on actual problems, and are feeding into a false narrative. I absolutely do NOT support this bill. We don't need our teachers afraid to teach. We don't need you telling the public they should be breathing down teachers' backs when they are just trying to do their jobs! What you're doing is creating a red scare but instead of actual communists, you're encouraging people to fear educators!
I am strongly opposed to this unnecessary bill as the commissioner has done nothing but create a negative rapport with our teachers who deserve so much better! Constituents do not trust him with the power of a subpeona!
I'm a lifelong learner and committed to full access to written materials in the schools.
I oppose this bill.
This is an overreach of the Office of Education and just another attempt to intimidate teachers.
My opposition was sent via email to the Members of the House Education Policy and Administration Committee.
The Department of education should not be harassing school employees. As a former school teacher of 35 years in NH, teachers have so many things to be concerned with. Adding looking over their shoulders all the time is unnecessary. Principals are charged with ensuring they do their jobs.
Hello, I oppose HB520 because this unnecessary bill would empower Frank Edelblut to issue subpoenas to harass educators and local school committees. If Mr. Edelblut has opinions, he does not need to harass public officials with subpoenas, he has plenty of civiized options. thank you
Hello, please do not further this bill or similar that would lead to potential harassment or intimidation of educators in New Hampshire. This is contrary to the constructive and positive education of NH children. Thank you for listening.