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CHAPTER 268
SB 574 - FINAL VERSION
03/12/2026 1011s
14May2026... 1810h
2026 SESSION
26-2004
12/09
SENATE BILL
574
AN ACT
establishing a commission to study the efficiency and structure of school administrative units.
SPONSORS: Sen. Innis, Dist 7; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. McGough, Dist 11; Sen. Lang, Dist 2; Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19; Sen. Ward, Dist 8; Sen. Rochefort, Dist 1; Sen. Gannon, Dist 23; Sen. Abbas, Dist 22; Sen. Sullivan, Dist 18; Sen. Prentiss, Dist 5; Sen. Murphy, Dist 16; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. McConkey, Dist 3; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17; Rep. Thibault, Merr. 25
COMMITTEE: Education
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill establishes a commission within the department of education to study the efficiency and structure of school administrative units (SAUs) for the purposes of identifying opportunities for SAU consolidation and restructuring as well as property tax relief.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03/12/2026 1011s
14May2026... 1810h 26-2004
12/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT
establishing a commission to study the efficiency and structure of school administrative units.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
268:1 New Section; School Administrative Unit Study Commission. Amend RSA 194-C by inserting after section 12 the following new section:
194-C:13 School Administrative Unit Study Commission.
I. There is established a commission to study the efficiency of existing school system structures. The commission shall be administratively attached to the department of education.
II. Notwithstanding RSA 14:49, the commission shall consist of the following members:
(a) Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
(b) Three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(c) The commissioner of the department of education, or designee.
(d) A superintendent, appointed by the New Hampshire School Administrators Association.
(e) A member of a local school board, appointed by the New Hampshire School Boards Association.
(f) A business office administrator, appointed by the New Hampshire Association of School Business Officials.
(g) A member appointed by the School District Governance Association of New Hampshire.
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) Review existing demographic and enrollment shifts statewide;
(b) Identify the number of school administrative units (SAUs) statewide, the cost per pupil in each SAU, and how SAUs can adjust their resource allocations to help reduce property taxes;
(c) Identify states that have consolidated or restructured their school systems;
(d) Examine impediments to consolidations and potential school closures; and
(e) Solicit testimony from any person or organization with relevant information or expertise.
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 senate member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 30 days of the effective date of this section. Five 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.
268:2 Prospective Repeal. RSA 194-C:13, relative to the school administrative unit study commission, is repealed.
268:3 Effective Date.
I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect on November 1, 2026.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.
Approved: July 02, 2026
Effective Date:
I. Section 2 effective November 1, 2026
II. Remainder effective July 2, 2026