New Hampshire HB 1563: relative to the special education aid formula and the administration and monitoring of state special education aid.

Bill Text

HB 1563-FN-LOCAL - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES

19Feb2026... 0546h

26Mar2026... 1086h

4Jun2026... 2140EBA

2026 SESSION

 26-2408

 07/08

HOUSE BILL 1563-FN-LOCAL

AN ACT relative to the special education aid formula and the administration and monitoring of state special education aid.

SPONSORS: Rep. Ladd, Graf. 5; Rep. Erf, Hills. 28; Rep. Peeples, Hills. 14; Rep. D. McGuire, Merr. 14; Rep. Popovici-Muller, Rock. 17; Rep. S. Smith, Sull. 3; Sen. Sullivan, Dist 18; Sen. Murphy, Dist 16; Sen. Innis, Dist 7

COMMITTEE: Education Funding

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill:

 I. Requires the department of education to distribute aid to school districts for pupils whose special education costs exceed a certain dollar value, but only up to a certain threshold.

 II. Creates considerations for calculating costs associated with a special education student's education.

 III. Requires each school district seeking special education aid reimbursements to submit a certified report for each student for whom reimbursement is requested.

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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

19Feb2026... 0546h

26Mar2026... 1086h

4Jun2026... 2140EBA 26-2408

 07/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT relative to the special education aid formula and the administration and monitoring of state special education aid.

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

 1 Legislative Intent. It is the intent of the general court to reduce administrative burden on school districts and the department, expedite reimbursement of state special education aid, and ensure appropriate stewardship of state funds through a risk-based monitoring methodology.

 2 Education; Special Education; State Aid. Amend RSA 186-C:18, III to read as follows:

 III.(a) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2029, based upon school year 2027-2028 costs, and for each fiscal year thereafter, [The] the department of education shall distribute aid available under this paragraph as entitlement to such school districts as have a special education pupil for whose costs they are responsible, for whom the costs of special education in the fiscal year exceed [3] 2 and 1/2 times the most current state average expenditure per pupil for the school year preceding the year of distribution. If in any year, the amount appropriated for distribution as special education aid in accordance with this section is insufficient therefor, the appropriation shall be prorated proportionally based on entitlement among the districts entitled to a grant, provided that the department of education shall distribute to the school district not less than 80 percent of the district's entitlement in the fiscal year. The state may designate up to $250,000 of the funds which are appropriated as required by this paragraph, for each fiscal year, to assist those school districts which, under guidelines established by rules of the state board of education, may qualify for emergency assistance to mitigate the impact of special education costs. The state may designate up to an additional $250,000 of the funds which are appropriated under this paragraph for each fiscal year for any community of 1,000 or fewer residents to mitigate the impact of special education costs when emergency assistance is necessary to prevent significant financial harm to such district or community. Upon application to the commissioner of education, and approval by the commissioner, such funds may be accepted and expended by school districts in accordance with this chapter; provided, however, that if a school district has received emergency assistance funds for certain children with disabilities, it shall not receive special education aid for those same children with disabilities. If any of the funds designated for emergency assistance under this paragraph are not used for such emergency assistance purposes, the funds shall be used to assist school districts in meeting special education cost increases in their special education programs as provided by this paragraph.

 [(b) The school district shall be liable for 3 and 1/2 times the estimated state average expenditure per pupil for the school year preceding the year of distribution, plus 20 percent of the additional cost, up to 10 times the estimated state average expenditure per pupil for the school year preceding the year of distribution.]

 (b) The school district shall be liable for the following amounts, calculated using the most current state average expenditure per pupil for the school year preceding t