HB 1820 New Hampshire House · 2026 Regular Session

requiring the department of education to administer the education freedom account program.

HB 1820 shifts administration of New Hampshire's Education Freedom Account (EFA) program from scholarship organizations to the Department of Education. It requires the Department to directly transfer funds to parents for qualifying education expenses (like tuition, materials, or tutoring) for eligible students, replacing the previous system where scholarship organizations managed distributions. Parents must apply through the Department, agree to educational requirements (including assessments or portfolio reviews), and use funds only for approved expenses. Unused EFA funds roll over annually but revert to the education trust fund if not used by graduation or after misuse. This bill directly affects parents of K-12 students participating in the EFA program.
Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Dec 18, 2025 Last action Aug 20, 2026
Floor votes · House Mar 5, 2026

How they voted

9095
Passed · 37 other
Total votes 222
Mar 5, 2026
D Democratic107
94 Nay 13
87% Nay
I Independent2
1 Yea 1
50% Yea
R Republican113
89 Yea 1 Nay 23
78% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
8
Key actions
2
Committee
2
Mar 5, 2026
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (90-95-37)
house
Feb 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
Minority Committee Report: Ought to Pass
lower
Feb 6, 2026
Committee
Majority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 01/29/2026 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 9 P. 38
lower
Dec 18, 2025
Introduced
Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Education Policy and Administration HJ 1 P. 37
lower
1 primary · 6 co-sponsors

Sponsors