Education

HB 1778 bars public schools in New Hampshire from teaching any approach that prioritizes personal identity factors (like race, gender, or sexual orientation) over individual merit in curriculum or policies. It requires school districts to create policies banning DEI-related curriculum, trainings, and programs, while prohibiting staff or students from being required to declare gender identity or pronouns. The law also mandates schools to promote equal opportunities for all students regardless of identity, with violations subject to civil action or educator disciplinary measures. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027, and does not provide new state funding for implementation.

HB 1792 prohibits New Hampshire public schools and staff from teaching critical race theory, LGBTQ+ ideologies, or specific identity-based pedagogies that the bill defines as promoting division or anti-constitutional views. It specifically bans practices like requiring students to identify "oppressors" based on race/gender, prioritizing identity over shared values, or affirming non-binary gender identities as normative. The bill creates a private right of action, allowing parents or students to sue schools for violations. It explicitly excludes factual, neutral instruction on history or events. The law aims to preserve "neutral or patriotic" education while restricting certain teaching methods deemed divisive.

HB 1834 sets a fixed enrollment cap of 10,000 students for New Hampshire's Education Freedom Account (EFA) program for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years, instead of allowing the cap to increase to 12,500 under current law. This directly affects families applying for EFA funds to cover private school costs and participating private schools. The bill freezes the cap until 2028, requiring any future increase only if enrollment exceeds 90% of the prior year's cap. The fiscal note estimates this change would save approximately $6.3 million in state spending for fiscal year 2027 by limiting enrollment to 11,250 students instead of 12,500. The bill does not alter eligibility rules or funding per student.

HB 1788 prohibits state agencies and public schools from entering contracts with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) requirements, such as mandating DEI programs, training, or reporting. It defines DEI as initiatives classifying individuals by certain characteristics to achieve demographic outcomes (excluding health services, ADA compliance, and student organizations), making any contract violating this automatically void. Taxpayers could then sue public entities for entering such contracts, seeking court orders to cancel the contracts and recover legal fees. The bill applies to all state contracts and public school agreements, directly affecting government entities and their contractors.

SB 507 limits school districts' financial responsibility for continuing education services for students expelled due to assaulting school staff. It requires districts to cover only the average per-pupil cost for such students, rather than full educational expenses. The bill does not change expulsion rules or relieve parents of their obligation to educate their children. This applies specifically to students expelled for assault against staff and takes effect 60 days after enactment.