SB 211 requires New Hampshire schools to designate athletic teams as "female," "male," or "coed" based on students' biological sex at birth (as listed on their birth certificate). It prohibits biologically male students from participating in "female" designated teams or using female locker rooms, while allowing male-designated teams to include all students. The bill creates a legal cause of action for athletes harmed by violations, including protections against retaliation for reporting issues. It excludes K-5 sports and intramural activities, and takes effect July 1, 2025.
HB 443 clarifies the term length for appointed members of New Hampshire's Higher Education Commission. It changes the law to state that appointed members serve fixed 5-year terms, removing the previous requirement that terms continue "until a successor is appointed and qualified." Vacancies are still filled for the remaining term, as specified in the current law. This bill directly affects the appointed members of the commission and takes effect 60 days after passage.
HB 621 allows birth mothers in New Hampshire to choose whether to share personal details (like name or address) from their birth worksheet with state agencies. This directly affects birth mothers, who will receive written notice about information sharing and can limit disclosure to only essential data for vital records and public health. The key mechanism requires hospitals to redact personal identifiers before sharing minimal statistical information with agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services, updating existing information-sharing protocols. The bill does not change current law’s "refused to provide" option but formalizes an active opt-out process through written notice and medical record documentation.
HB 676 modifies the Parent and Education Service Provider Advisory Commission, increasing its membership from 7 to 9 members (requiring representation from at least 4 counties) and expanding its role in reviewing education service provider denials and program processes. It also establishes two new surveys: a mandatory "Education Freedom Account Impact Survey" for parents exiting public schools, asking about their reasons for seeking an EFA and suggestions for public schools, and an annual "Parent Satisfaction Survey" measuring parental satisfaction with EFA options, academic progress, and cost comparisons (requiring 90% participation). These changes directly affect parents using education freedom accounts (EFAs) and education service providers participating in the program. The bill aims to gather feedback for program improvements through structured commission reviews and standardized surveys, with annual reports due to legislative leaders starting in 2026.
HB 362 requires all candidates seeking New Hampshire teaching, administrator, or specialist licenses to achieve passing scores on professional education assessments. This applies to educators seeking certification in public schools, with a specific exception allowing local school boards to request waivers for Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers. The bill grants the Department of Education rulemaking authority to establish these assessment requirements and processes. The law takes effect 60 days after passage.
HB 607 establishes a dedicated "Hampton Beach master plan fund" within the state treasurer's office to support the Hampton Beach area commission's operations and initiatives. The bill appropriates $5,000 for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and another $5,000 for 2026-2027, both drawn from the state General Fund, to cover commission expenses like staff costs and project implementation. The fund is designed to be non-lapsing, meaning unspent money remains available for future use rather than returning to the general state budget. This directly affects the commission's ability to manage and fund activities in Hampton Beach, including community projects and planning efforts.
HB 585 creates a property tax exemption for religious organizations that rent out specific properties. It allows one rental church parsonage (residential) and one rental worship building (e.g., church, synagogue, mosque) to be exempt from property taxes, provided the rental income is used solely for the religious leader’s compensation, building maintenance, or standard religious programs. The exemption applies only to single houses of worship (like churches or synagogues) and limits each organization to one exemption per property type. This change takes effect for tax periods ending after December 31, 2024.
HB 105 creates a new "Love NH Lakes" license plate for New Hampshire vehicle owners, featuring a loon on a lake design alongside the "Live Free or Die" logo. Drivers who purchase this plate pay a $30 fee (in addition to standard registration costs), with all remaining revenue after covering production and administrative expenses directed to the cyanobacteria mitigation fund. The fund uses these resources to support projects addressing harmful algae blooms (cyanobacteria) in New Hampshire waterways. This bill directly affects vehicle owners who choose to buy the special plate, with commercial use of the plate design also contributing royalties to the same fund.
HB 330 prohibits unauthorized copying, retention, or scanning of driver's license data - except for specific government purposes like voting verification or court orders. It imposes fines of at least $100,000 per violation for individuals (misdemeanor) and entities (felony), plus lifetime identity theft protection for affected residents, with $100,000 per person fines for data breaches. The bill directly affects government agencies, private businesses, and anyone handling driver's license information, strengthening privacy protections for New Hampshire residents' personal data. It takes effect January 1, 2026, and aligns with the state’s finding that license data is constitutionally confidential.
HB 1545 defines "evidence-based" in education as teaching methods validated through reproducible, well-designed studies across disciplines, excluding subjective measures like surveys. It requires all public education methods in New Hampshire - such as classroom pedagogy, teacher training, and school policies - to meet this standard, with teacher preparation programs in colleges having three years to comply. The Department of Education will review these programs, impose penalties for non-compliance (including fines up to $5,000 or loss of accreditation), and mandate data collection for limited two-year pilot programs. The bill explicitly excludes curriculum content itself from the requirement and mandates clear disclaimers when the "evidence-based" term is misused.
HB 1470 requires New Hampshire school districts to involve vocational rehabilitation (VR) and area agency staff in annual Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings for students expected to earn only a certificate of completion (not a high school diploma). Specifically, these teams must meet at least once yearly, two years before graduation, to develop a signed Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) through VR and a person-centered care plan. Parents can waive requirements if VR and agencies met with them twice during IEP meetings to discuss transition services, or if VR determines no suitable employment is possible after assessment. The bill applies directly to students with IEPs who will not receive a high school diploma. It takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 1437 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring all New Hampshire elections to use hand-counted, serial-numbered ballots with perforated voter receipts matching ballot numbers. It mandates strict ballot handling procedures, including 24/7 monitored storage for 60 months, dual-signature chain-of-custody logs, and random county audits by citizen reviewers after each election. The bill directly affects all local election officials (moderators, clerks) and voters, limiting polling locations to 5,000 voters and requiring annual training for election staff. This amendment must be approved by voters in the 2026 general election before taking effect.
