New Hampshire HB 1781: relative to child support obligations during postsecondary education.

Bill Text

HB 1781-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION

 26-3075

 09/08

HOUSE BILL 1781-FN

AN ACT relative to child support obligations during postsecondary education.

SPONSORS: Rep. Burton, Straf. 10

COMMITTEE: Education Funding

─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

ANALYSIS

 This bill extends parental child support obligations to potentially include payment for post-high school education, including college tuition.

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

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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 26-3075

 09/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT relative to child support obligations during postsecondary education.

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

 1 Parental Rights and Responsibilities; Support. Amend RSA 461-A:14, IV to read as follows: 

 IV. The amount of a child support obligation shall remain as stated in the order until the dependent child for whom support is ordered marries, or becomes a member of the armed services, or is emancipated pursuant to an order of emancipation under RSA 461-B, or reaches the age of 18 years, unless the child is still a full-time student at a secondary or elementary school, charter school, [or] a home education program in conformity with RSA 193-A at the age of 18, or college or other post-secondary education, subject to paragraph V, then child support shall continue until the child graduates or until [2 months after] the child reaches the age of [19] 22, whichever is first, at which time the child support obligation, including all educational support obligations, shall terminate without further legal action. If the parties have a child with disabilities, the court may initiate or continue the child support obligation after the child reaches the age of 18. No child support order for a child with disabilities which becomes effective after July 9, 2013 may continue after the child reaches age 21 or no longer qualifies as a child with a disability, as defined in RSA 186-C:2, I, who is receiving special education or special education and related services as identified by the child's school district. 

 2 Parental Rights and Responsibilities; Support. Amend RSA 461-A:14, V to read as follows: 

 V. No child support order shall require a parent to contribute to an adult child's [college expenses or other] educational expenses beyond the completion of [high school] college, except as provided in RSA 461-A:21. 

 3 Parental Rights and Responsibilities; Agreement on Post-College Expenses. Amend RSA 461-A:21 to read as follows: 

 461-A:21 Agreement on Post-College Expenses. Parents may agree to contribute to their child's post-college educational expenses or other educational expenses beyond the completion of [high school] college as part of a stipulated decree, signed by both parents and approved by the court. The agreed-on contribution may be made by one or both parents. The agreement may provide for contributions to an account to save for [college] educational expenses, for the use of an asset, or for payment of educational expenses as incurred. Any such agreement shall specify the amount of the contribution, a percentage, or a formula to determine the amount of the contribution. 

 4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027. 

 LBA

 26-3075

 Revised 02/10/2026

HB 1781-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT relative to child support obligations during postsecondary education.

FISCAL IMPACT: This bill does not provide funding, nor does it authorize new positions.

 Estimated State Impact

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

 Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

 Revenue Fund(s)

None

 Expenditures*

$0

$7,000 - $17,000 general funds; $13,000 - $33,000 federal funds

$0

$0

 Funding Source(s)

General funds, federal funds

 Appropriations*

$0

$0

$0

$0

 Funding Source(s)

None

 *Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill

METHODOLOGY:

This bill amends RSA 461-A by making the following changes to child support laws. The bill:

• Removes the portion of the statute that caps child support at two months after a child’s 19th birthday, replacing it with a cap at 22 years old; 
• Provides that support may continue through college or other post-secondary education, subject to RSA 461-A:14, V; 
• States that no child support order shall require a parent to contribute to an adult child’s college expenses or other educational expense beyond the completion of college, except as provided in RSA 461-A:21; and
• Provide guidance on how parents can agree to cover post-college educational expense. 

The De