New Hampshire SB 491: enabling students to utilize education freedom account funds to pay for certain career and technical education funding and removing references to "curriculum frameworks" as they relate to the substantive educational content of an adequate education.

Bill Text

SB 491-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

02/05/2026 0379s

2026 SESSION

 26-2056

 07/08

SENATE BILL 491-FN

AN ACT enabling students to utilize education freedom account funds to pay for certain career and technical education funding. 

SPONSORS: Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Lang, Dist 2; Sen. McGough, Dist 11; Sen. Sullivan, Dist 18; Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Sen. Long, Dist 20; Sen. McConkey, Dist 3; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17

COMMITTEE: Education Finance

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

ANALYSIS

 This bill enables students to utilize education freedom account funds to pay for certain career and technical education funding.

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

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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

02/05/2026 0379s 26-2056

 07/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT enabling students to utilize education freedom account funds to pay for certain career and technical education funding. 

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

 1 Education; Regional Career and Technical Education (CTE); Costs for Students Attending Career and Technical Education Programs. Amend RSA 188-E:6, IV to read as follows:

 IV. In consultation with the house and senate committees responsible for education policy and financial matters, the [state board] department of education shall, in rules adopted pursuant to RSA 541-A, develop a formula for determining separately the tuition and transportation costs for approved career technical education programs and procedures for disbursement of funds.

 2 New Paragraph; Education; Regional Career and Technical Education (CTE); Payment of Tuition and Transportation Funds. Amend RSA 188-E:9 by inserting after paragraph IV the following new paragraph:

 V. The department of education shall establish separate funds for tuition and transportation and determine the cost for each on an annual basis in accordance with the provisions of RSA 188:E-6, IV and 188-E:9, II-III.

 3 New Paragraph; Education; Education Freedom Accounts; Authority and Responsibilities of the Scholarship Organization. Amend RSA 194-F:4 by inserting after paragraph XVII the following new paragraph:

 XVIII. The scholarship organization, in cooperation with the department of education, shall make available to EFA students in grades 9-12 information about enrolling in career and technical education classes and programs. 

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

 LBA

 26-2056

 04/06/2026

SB 491-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE (AMENDMENT #2026-0379s)

AN ACT enabling students to utilize education freedom account funds to pay for certain career and technical education funding. 

FISCAL IMPACT: 

This bill requires the Department of Education to establish formulas and separate funds for career and technical education (CTE) tuition and transportation costs, and to determine those costs annually. This would be accomplished presumably through administrative rulemaking. This bill also requires that Education Freedom Account (EFA) students in grades 9 through 12 be provided information about enrolling in CTE programs. 

This bill is not expected to have a fiscal impact.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

 Department of Education