establishing a revolving loan fund for school districts.

HB 292 establishes a commission to study school administrative unit (SAU) consolidation in New Hampshire. The commission will examine the financial feasibility of consolidating the state’s 107 SAUs (up from 53 in the 1980s), analyze high administrative costs (ranked second-highest per pupil nationally), and identify potential efficiencies from shared services like transportation and IT. It will gather stakeholder input, study implementation challenges, and propose a consolidation plan by November 2026. The commission includes 15 members representing legislators, educators, administrators, school boards, and parents. This bill does not create new funding or mandate consolidation but directs a study to inform future policy decisions.