HB 1820 — requiring the department of education to administer the education freedom account program.

Summary

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

Bill Text

• Introduced View text Current pdf

Compared against the N.H. Revised Statutes Annotated as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

This bill transfers the administration of the education freedom account program from scholarship organizations to the department of education.

• RSA 194-F:1

  [scholarship organization] → department

  Changes the entity responsible for administering education freedom accounts.

• RSA 194-F:1

  XII. "Scholarship organization", means a scholarship organization approved under RSA 77:G, that administers and implements the EFA Act. → XII. "State board" means the state board of education.

  Replaces the definition of scholarship organization with state board of education.

• RSA 194-F:2

  [scholarship organization] → student's EFA

  Changes the reference from scholarship organization to the student's education freedom account in the fund transfer process.

• RSA 194-F:2

  [scholarship organization] → state board

  Updates the approval authority for educational expenses from scholarship organizations to the state board.

• RSA 194-F:2

  VII. An EFA shall remain in force, and any unused funds shall roll over from quarter-to-quarter and from year-to-year until the parent withdraws the EFA student from the EFA program, the student becomes ineligible, or until the EFA student graduates from high school, unless the EFA is closed because of a substantial misuse of funds. Any unused funds shall revert to the education trust fund established in RSA 198:39. → VII. An EFA shall remain in force, and any unused funds shall roll over from quarter-to-quarter and from year-to-year until the parent withdraws the EFA student from the EFA program, the student becomes ineligible, or until the EFA student graduates from high school, unless the EFA is closed because of a substantial misuse of funds. Unused funds that roll over from year-to-year shall not exceed the amount of one quarterly distribution into the student’s EFA and any excess year-to-year roll over funds shall be returned to the education trust fund.

  Limits the rollover of unused funds in an education freedom account to not exceed one quarterly distribution.

• RSA 194-F:3

  194-F:3 Application for an Education Freedom Account. I. A parent may apply to the department to establish an EFA for an eligible student. The department shall accept and approve applications for the fall and spring semesters each year and shall establish procedures for approving applications in an expeditious manner. II. The department shall create a standard form that parents can submit to establish their student’s eligibility for the EFA program and shall ensure that the application is publicly available and may be submitted through various sources, including the Internet.

  Establishes a new section detailing the application process for education freedom accounts.

• RSA 194-F:4

  194-F:4 Authority and Responsibilities of the Department. I. The department shall maintain an updated list of education service providers and shall ensure that the list is publicly available through various sources, including the department's website. II. The department shall provide parents with a written explanation of the allowable uses of EFA funds, the responsibilities of parents, the duties of the department, and the role of any financial management firms that the department may contract with to administer any aspect of the EFA program.

  Defines the authority and responsibilities of the department in relation to the education freedom account program.

Action History

1. August 20, 2026

   Died on Table, Session ended 08/19/2026 HJ 16

2. March 05, 2026

   Lay HB1820 on Table (Rep. Noble): MA RC 179-157 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 105

3. February 06, 2026

   Minority Committee Report: Ought to Pass

4. February 06, 2026

   Majority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 01/29/2026 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 9 P. 38

5. January 14, 2026

   Executive Session: 01/22/2026 10:00 am GP 232

6. January 08, 2026

   Public Hearing: 01/14/2026 01:00 pm GP 232

7. December 18, 2025

   Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Education Policy and Administration HJ 1 P. 37

Sponsors

• Debra Altschiller · Cosponsor
• Donovan Fenton · Cosponsor
• David Luneau · Primary
• Patricia Cornell · Cosponsor
• Hope Damon · Cosponsor
• Tracy Bricchi · Cosponsor
• Sallie Fellows · Cosponsor

Votes

Subjects