HB1373 • 2026

relative to background check disqualifications for applicants seeking educator credentials.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Melissa Litchfield (R), James Thibault (R), Margaret Drye (R), Brian Nadeau (R), Kristin Noble (R), Bill Gannon (R)
Last action: 2026-04-06
Official status: SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

relative to background check disqualifications for applicants seeking educator credentials.

What This Bill Does

relative to background check disqualifications for applicants seeking educator credentials.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2026-04-06 H
Signed by Governor Ayotte 04/03/2026; Chapter 23; eff: 04/03/2026
2026-03-26 H
Enrolled 03/26/2026 HJ 9 P. 2
2026-03-26 S
Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 03/26/2026); SJ 8
2026-03-06 S
Ought to Pass : MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/12/2026; SJ 6
2026-03-05 S
Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 03/12/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 9
2026-02-19 S
Hearing: 03/03/2026, Room Map Room, SL, 10:15 am; SC 8
2026-02-09 S
Introduced 02/05/2026 and Referred to Education; SJ 4
2026-02-05 H
Ought to Pass : MA VV 02/05/2026 HJ 3 P. 8
2026-01-27 H
Committee Report: Ought to Pass 01/22/2026 (Vote 18-0; CC) HC 5 P. 5
2026-01-14 H
Executive Session: 01/22/2026 10:00 am GP 232
2026-01-08 H
Public Hearing: 01/14/2026 10:30 am GP 232
2025-12-02 H
Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Education Policy and Administration HJ 1 P. 17

Official Summary Text

relative to background check disqualifications for applicants seeking educator credentials.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

CHAPTER 23
HB 1373 - FINAL VERSION

2026 SESSION
26-3030
12/09

HOUSE BILL
1373

AN ACT
relative to background check disqualifications for applicants seeking educator credentials.

SPONSORS: Rep. Litchfield, Rock. 32; Rep. Nadeau, Rock. 4; Rep. Thibault, Merr. 25; Rep. Noble, Hills. 2; Rep. Drye, Sull. 7; Sen. Gannon, Dist 23

COMMITTEE: Education Policy and Administration

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ANALYSIS

This bill extends criminal history record checks for applicants seeking educator credentials by adding additional crimes to the record check.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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.
26-3030
12/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT
relative to background check disqualifications for applicants seeking educator credentials.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

23:1 Additional Crimes; Criminal History Records Check. Amend RSA 189:13-c, V to read as follows:
V. Any person who has been charged pending disposition for or convicted of any violation or attempted violation of RSA 318-B:2 for possession of a controlled drug with the intent to sell, felony level, within the last 10 years, RSA 630:1; 630:1-a; 630:1-b; 630:2;
630:3;
631:1;
631:2; 631:2-b;
632-A:2; 632-A:3; 632-A:4; 633:1; 633:7;
636:1; 638:1; 638:15-a;
639:2; 639:3; 645:1, II or III; 645:2; 649-A:3; 649-A:3-a; 649-A:3-b; 649-B:3; or 649-B:4; or any violation or any attempted violation of RSA 650:2 where the act involves a child in material deemed obscene in this state, or under any statute prohibiting the same conduct in another state, territory, or possession of the United States, shall not be granted a teaching credential by the department nor shall candidates be granted clearance.

23:2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

Approved: April 03, 2026
Effective Date: April 03, 2026