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HB 1358 - FINAL VERSION
11Mar2026... 0924h
05/07/2026 1727s
2026 SESSION
26-3067
07/09
HOUSE BILL
1358
AN ACT
establishing a commission to study transitioning all public schools to public charter schools.
SPONSORS: Rep. Osborne, Rock. 2
COMMITTEE: Education Policy and Administration
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill establishes a commission to study transitioning all public schools to public charter schools.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in
bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [
in brackets and struckthrough.
]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
11Mar2026... 0924h
05/07/2026 1727s 26-3067
07/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT
establishing a commission to study transitioning all public schools to public charter schools.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Education; Chartered Public Schools; Transitioning Public Schools to Charter Schools Commission. Amend RSA 194-B by inserting after section 21 the following new section:
194-B:21-a Transitioning Public Schools to Charter Schools Commission.
I. There is established a commission to study the feasibility and potential impact of transitioning all public schools in New Hampshire to operate as public charter schools and whether such a transition could relieve local property taxpayers, restore local control, and ensure that state education dollars are used more efficiently to benefit students and families.
II. The members of the commission shall be as follows:
(a) Three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(b) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
(c) The commissioner of the department of education, or designee.
(d) One representative of a public charter school, appointed by the commissioner of the department of education.
(e) One representative of a traditional public school district, appointed by the commissioner of the department of education.
(f) One member representing the special education committee, appointed by the governor.
III. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.
IV. The commission shall:
(a) Study the potential benefits of restructuring all public schools in New Hampshire as public charter schools or other independent schools.
(b) Examine funding models that would reduce reliance on local property taxes while increasing state level funding support.
(c) Consider how a transition to charter-based governance could increase local district flexibility, innovation, and autonomy.
(d) Assess potential impacts on student achievement, teacher recruitment and retention, accountability, and community engagement.
(e) Identify any statutory changes that may be required to effectuate such a transition.
V. The members of the study commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Four members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
VI. The commission shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2026.
2 Repeal. RSA 194-B:21-a, relative to the commission to study transitioning public schools to public charter schools, is repealed.
3 Effective Date.
I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect November 1, 2026.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.
VETOED July 2, 2026