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2024 Legislative Agenda

This is where you can find the list of the school funding bills that NHSFFP is tracking during the legislative session. Click on the buttons below to see the legislation we’ve tracked in the past.

2023 Legislative Session 2022 Legislative Session 2021 Legislative Session

HB 1583 – Relative to the per pupil cost of an opportunity for an adequate education.

- Sponsors: Rep. Wheeler, Rep. Heath Howard, Rep. Selig, Rep. Kenney
- This bill increases the State’s annual base adequacy aid payment from $4,100 to $10,000 per pupil. This number is based on the amount requested by the ConVal School District in its lawsuit against the State, and includes expenses the State currently mandates but argued in court are not part of an adequate education like transportation, school nurses, and school buildings.
- This bill came out of the special funding subcommittee with a recommendation that it be amended to change the base adequacy amount to $4,404 beginning on July 1, 2025, a $34 million increase in State funding.
- It was also amended to include $39 million in fiscal capacity disparity aid that directs more funding to communities with low property values, and $25 million for districts with high proportions of students eligible for free and reduced price lunch. These increases will take effect July 1, 2024.
- Status: This bill was referred for Interim Study on a Voice Vote in the Senate on May 23.

Use our interactive map to see how much additional State funding this bill would send to your community.

HB 1656 – Relative to increasing the adequacy grant for pupils receiving special education services.

- Sponsors: Rep. Kenney, Rep. Morse, Rep. Selig, Rep. Horrigan, Rep. Nutting-Wong, Rep. Wheeler, Rep. Heath Howard, Rep. Toll, Sen. Watters, Sen. Altschiller
- This bill increases the differentiated aid payment that the State makes for each student receiving special education services from $2,100 to $27,000 as part of the adequate education grant they send to school districts. In 2022, the average additional cost of special education services was $28,361 per pupil.
- This bill came out of the special funding subcommittee with a recommendation that it be amended to increase total spending on special education differentiated aid by $35 million. It would distribute that money with a weighted formula where students with higher levels of need would receive larger grants.
- Despite it being the intent of the bill, the bill’s language as passed by the House only increased differentiated aid by $17.5 million. An amendment in the House Finance Committee to bring the bill in line with the $35 million intent was not passed by the committee.
- Status: This bill was referred for Interim Study on a Voice Vote in the Senate on May 16.

HB 1176 – Establishing a commission to study current funding for special education and potential other funding sources.

Sponsors: Rep. Heath, Rep. Cascadden, Rep. Myler, Rep. Cornell, Rep. Porcelli, Rep. Wilhelm, Rep. Rung
This bill creates a commission to study to costs of special education in public schools and explore specific revenue sources that the State could use to increase funding for special education and reduce the reliance on local property taxes for funding these services.
Status: This bill was recommended for Interim Study by the full House a Voice Vote on the Consent Calendar on March 14.

HB 1670 – Relative to including all special education costs under state education grants.

Sponsors: Rep. Kenney, Rep. Morse, Rep. Selig, Rep. Nutting-Wong, Rep. Wheeler, Rep. Heath Howard, Rep. Grossman
This bill increases the amount the State pays in adequate education grants to include 95% of all costs associated with special education. During the 2021-22 school year, State funding accounted for about 11% of all special education funding, with local property tax payers responsible for 81%. This bill would have this increased state funding raised through the Statewide Education Property Tax.
Status: This bill was referred for interim study by the full House on February 8.

HB 1586 – Establishing a foundation opportunity budget program for funding public education.

Sponsors: Rep. Luneau, Rep. Myler, Rep. Ames, Rep. Heath
This bill includes a number of changes to the way education is funded. Critically, it expands the Low and Moderate Income Homeowner Property Tax Relief Program to ensure more Granite Staters have access to property tax relief.
Status: This bill was sent for Interim Study by the Full House on the Consent Calendar on February 14.

HB 1686 – Relative to requiring excess revenues raised through the statewide education property tax to be remitted to the education trust fund and prohibiting the department of revenue administration from setting negative local and county tax rates on real property.

Sponsors: Rep. Marjorie Smith, Rep. Steven Smith, Rep. Noël, Rep. Cascadden, Rep. Muirhead, Rep. Kenney, Rep. Rollins, Rep. Brian Sullivan, Rep. Spilsbury
This bill requires all excess SWEPT revenues collected by municipalities be remitted to the State, and also prohibits the NH Department of Revenue Administration from setting negative local tax rates. Both of these reforms ensure all property owners in the State pay the same SWEPT rate, and both changes are in line with the recent court ruling in Rand v. State of New Hampshire.
Status: This bill was laid on the table by the Full House 193-181. Because the House did not act on the bill before the deadline for bills heading to a second committee, the bill died on the table.

HB 1492 – Relative to the rate and exemptions of the interest and dividends tax.

Sponsors: Rep. Almy, Rep. Walner
This bill reimplements the Interest & Dividends Tax. This tax, which is scheduled to be repealed at the end of the next fiscal year, is estimated to have generated around $135 million in state revenue in 2023. The NH Fiscal Policy Institute found that more than half of I&D revenue was paid by households with more than $200,000 in I&D income, meaning they have upwards of $4 million in investments.
Status: This bill was referred for interim study by the Full House on a Voice Vote on February 15.

HB 569 – Relative to the state education property tax and the low and moderate income homeowners property tax relief program.

Sponsor: Rep. Ames
This bill returns the Statewide Education Property Tax to a true state tax by requiring the State to collect SWEPT revenues, and adjusts the formula used to determine how districts receive from the State. The bill also increase the income threshold for people to be eligible for the low and moderate income homeowners property tax relief program and drastically increases the amount of money available for property tax relief.
Status: Full House Voted to Refer for Interim Study on January 3.

Read our testimony on this bill.

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HB 1583 – Relative to the per pupil cost of an opportunity for an adequate education.

HB 1656 – Relative to increasing the adequacy grant for pupils receiving special education services.

HB 1176 – Establishing a commission to study current funding for special education and potential other funding sources.

HB 1670 – Relative to including all special education costs under state education grants.

HB 1586 – Establishing a foundation opportunity budget program for funding public education.

HB 1686 – Relative to requiring excess revenues raised through the statewide education property tax to be remitted to the education trust fund and prohibiting the department of revenue administration from setting negative local and county tax rates on real property.

HB 1492 – Relative to the rate and exemptions of the interest and dividends tax.

HB 569 – Relative to the state education property tax and the low and moderate income homeowners property tax relief program.

The support of generous donors like you is critical to our success. Please consider becoming a part of the fair funding movement and contributing to our efforts.

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