SB 586 is sponsored by Victoria Sullivan (Republican), Keith Murphy (Republican), Howard Pearl (Republican), Daniel Innis (Republican), Bill Gannon (Republican), Ruth Ward (Republican), Kevin Avard (Republican), Regina Birdsell (Republican), and Sharon Carson (Republican).

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New Hampshire 2026 Session Status: Enacted 9 R cosponsors

SB 586 — requiring chartered public schools, school administrative units, and cities or school districts not audited under RSA 671:5 to be audited by an independent public accountant after the end of the fiscal year and requiring the results of such audits to be made available to the public.

Last action July 09, 2026 — Signed by the Governor on 07/02/2026; Chapter 272; Effective 07/01/2026

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Introduced
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In Committee
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Passed Senate
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Passed House
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To Executive
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Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced November 25, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Kelly Ayotte (Republican) on July 09, 2026.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 50% · moderate confidence

Enacted

Current position in the legislative process.
9 sponsors

1 primary, 8 co-sponsors signed on.
Single-party support

Sponsorship is currently within one party (9 R).
Failed a recorded vote

Failed 2 recorded votes so far — a real headwind.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

This bill requires independent audits for certain public schools and districts and mandates public access to audit results.

The bill mandates that chartered public schools and some school districts undergo annual independent audits. It also requires the audit results to be publicly available, ensuring transparency in financial operations.

What this means for you

Workers: Workers in education may face changes in financial oversight and reporting requirements.
Families: Families will have access to transparent financial information regarding their local schools.

Summary

(New Title) requiring chartered public schools, school administrative units, and cities or school districts not audited under RSA 671:5 to be audited by an independent public accountant after the end of the fiscal year and requiring the results of such audits to be made available to the public.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

68 added · 118 removed

Plain-language change summary

The latest version of Bill SB 586 requires chartered public schools, school administrative units, and certain cities or school districts to undergo audits by independent public accountants at the end of their fiscal years. Importantly, it mandates that the results of these audits be publicly available. This change is significant because it enhances transparency and accountability in how public educational funds are managed. By ensuring these audits are conducted and reported, the bill aims to foster trust in the financial practices of educational institutions.

CHAPTER 272 SB 586-FN - ~~VERSION~~FINAL ~~ADOPTED~~VERSION BY ~~BOTH~~ ~~BODIES~~ 03/05/2026 0772s 23Apr2026...

1272:1 Education;

"I certify, under the pains and penalties of perjury, to the best of my knowledge and belief, that all of the information contained in this document is true, accurate and complete." SB ~~586-FN~~ - ~~VERSION~~ ~~ADOPTED~~ BY ~~BOTH~~ ~~BODIES~~ - ~~Page~~ 2 - IV.

CHAPTER 272 SB 586-FN - FINAL VERSION - Page 2 - V.

2272:2 Effective Date.

~~LBA~~Approved: ~~26-2110~~ ~~05/15/2026~~ SB ~~586-FN-~~ ~~FISCAL~~ ~~NOTE~~ AS ~~AMENDED~~ BY ~~THE~~ ~~HOUSE~~ ~~(AMENDMENT~~ ~~#2026-1500h)~~ AN ~~ACT~~ ~~requiring~~ ~~chartered~~ ~~public~~ ~~schools,~~ ~~school~~ ~~administrative~~ ~~units,~~ ~~and~~ ~~cities~~ or ~~school~~ ~~districts~~ ~~not~~ ~~audited~~ ~~under~~ ~~RSA~~ ~~671:5~~ to be ~~audited~~ by an ~~independent~~ ~~public~~ ~~accountant~~ ~~after~~ ~~the~~ ~~end~~ of ~~the~~ ~~fiscal~~ ~~year~~ ~~and~~ ~~requiring~~ ~~the~~ ~~results~~ of ~~such~~ ~~audits~~ to be ~~made~~ ~~available~~ to ~~the~~ ~~public.~~

~~FISCAL~~July ~~IMPACT:~~02, 2026 Effective Date:

~~This~~July ~~bill~~01, ~~does~~2026 ~~not~~ ~~provide~~ ~~funding,~~ ~~nor~~ ~~does~~ it ~~authorize~~ ~~new~~ ~~positions.~~

Estimated State Impact FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028 FY 2029 Revenue $0 $0 $0 $0 Revenue Fund(s) None Expenditures* $0 $75,000 $461,000 $484,000 Funding Source(s) General Fund Appropriations* $0 $0 $0 $0 Funding Source(s) None *Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill Estimated Political Subdivision Impact FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028 FY 2029 Local Revenue $0 $0 $0 $0 Local Expenditures $0 Indeterminable METHODOLOGY:

This bill requires district public school and charter public schools to complete a financial audit by April 1st each year and requires the Department of Education to withhold state grant funding until completed.

~~Under current law and practice, the Department states districts are required to complete an audit 12 months after fiscal year close and charter schools are required to submit after 9 months.~~

~~For the fiscal year ending June 2024, 55 percent of districts returned an audit within 12 months, and 58 percent of charter schools returned an audit within 9 months.~~

~~This bill allows for an extension to be granted up to 12 months after the audit due date.~~

~~Therefore, the bill allows districts and chartered public schools a maximum of 21 months to submit an audit until funding is withheld.~~

~~It is assumed that the bill’s effective date of July 1, 2026, would impact FY 2027, which would require the audit to be submitted by April 1, 2028.~~

~~The first payments would be withheld starting April 2029.~~

~~It is assumed a very small number of districts and chartered public schools would not meet this requirement.~~

~~However, financial impacts would not occur, if any, until late in FY 2029.~~

~~The Department, within its existing operations, can collect audits reports, notify districts of the requirement and the deadline to submit, and withhold state funding as applicable.~~

With existing resources, the Department states it cannot review or analyze the submitted audit reports, nor can it assist districts and charted public schools struggling with financial reporting and monitor audit identified deficiencies.

~~Additional resources are needed to implement all aspects of the proposed bill and effectively provide oversight of district and charter public school audit reports.~~

FY 2027 FY 2028 FY 2029 Two (2) District Auditors $0 $318,000 $334,000 (SOC 13-09, Starting Step 9) One (1) Charter School Auditor $0 $143,000 $150,000 (SOC 13-09, Starting Step 5) Contract Expense $75,000 $0 $0 Total $75,000 $461,000 $484,000 Under current law school administrative units (SAUs) are not required to receive an audit.

~~Therefore, this may create an additional cost for school districts.~~

~~AGENCIES CONTACTED:~~

~~Department of Education~~

Latest

SB 586-FN - ~~VERSION~~ ~~ADOPTED~~ BY ~~BOTH~~ ~~BODIES~~ 03/05/2026 0772s 23Apr2026...

CHAPTER 272 SB 586-FN - FINAL VERSION 03/05/2026 0772s 23Apr2026...

SB 586-FN - ~~VERSION~~ ~~ADOPTED~~ BY ~~BOTH~~ ~~BODIES~~ 03/05/2026 0772s 23Apr2026...

CHAPTER 272 SB 586-FN - FINAL VERSION 03/05/2026 0772s 23Apr2026...

1 Education;

272:1 Education;

"I certify, under the pains and penalties of perjury, to the best of my knowledge and belief, that all of the information contained in this document is true, accurate and complete." IV.

CHAPTER 272 SB 586-FN - FINAL VERSION - Page 2 - V.

2 Effective Date.

272:2 Effective Date.

~~LBA~~ ~~26-2110~~ ~~05/15/2026~~ SB ~~586-FN-~~ ~~FISCAL~~ ~~NOTE~~ AS ~~AMENDED~~ BY ~~THE~~ ~~HOUSE~~ ~~(AMENDMENT~~ ~~#2026-1500h)~~ AN ~~ACT~~ ~~requiring~~ ~~chartered~~ ~~public~~ ~~schools,~~ ~~school~~ ~~administrative~~ ~~units,~~ ~~and~~ ~~cities~~ or ~~school~~ ~~districts~~ ~~not~~ ~~audited~~ ~~under~~ ~~RSA~~ ~~671:5~~ to be ~~audited~~ by an ~~independent~~ ~~public~~ ~~accountant~~ ~~after~~ ~~the~~ ~~end~~ of ~~the~~ ~~fiscal~~ ~~year~~ ~~and~~ ~~requiring~~ ~~the~~ ~~results~~ of ~~such~~ ~~audits~~ to be ~~made~~ ~~available~~ to ~~the~~ ~~public.~~

Approved:

~~FISCAL~~ ~~IMPACT:~~

July 02, 2026 Effective Date:

~~This~~ ~~bill~~ ~~does~~ ~~not~~ ~~provide~~ ~~funding,~~ ~~nor~~ ~~does~~ it ~~authorize~~ ~~new~~ ~~positions.~~

July 01, 2026