The 2021 legislature opened last Wednesday, January 6th with an unprecedented “drive in” session at a UNH parking lot.
Due to ongoing Covid protocols, the NH House and Senate will continue with remote hearings and sessions. The public will need to follow new procedures to virtually attend or watch the meetings, printed in the House and Senate calendars.
The NH Senate Education Committee will begin right away on Tuesday, January 12th, with public hearings on a few bills. The NH House Education Committee will have an orientation meeting on Thursday, January 14th.
GSHE, as a 501c4, is able to take a position on homeschool-related legislation, and we will provide information on bills as they are scheduled, for those who have interest.
There are other bills filed for 2021 that may be of interest to homeschoolers that are not about home education. We have compiled a list of those that are available on the NH General Court website to date as a courtesy to our community. None of them have public hearings scheduled at this time.
CACR 3 use of money raised by taxation for education. Providing that money raised by taxation may be applied for the use of religious educational institutions.
Text: http://gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_Status/billText.aspx?sy=2021&id=19&txtFormat=html
Issue: Blaine Amendment, recent SCOTUS Espinoza v Montana
HB 175 relative to reciprocal driver education
Text: http://gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_Status/billText.aspx?sy=2021&id=130&txtFormat=html
Issue: driver education
HB 182 relative to approval of coursework completed at other approved schools.
Text: http://gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_Status/billText.aspx?sy=2021&id=265&txtFormat=html
Issue: transfer credits from approved schools
HB 282 relative to a private school that is approved as a tuition program
Text: http://gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_Status/billText.aspx?sy=2021&id=540&txtFormat=html
Issue: town-tuitioning, recent SCOTUS Espinoza v Montana
HB 300 relative to driver education
Text: http://gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_Status/billText.aspx?sy=2021&id=424&txtFormat=html
Issue: driver education
HB 388 relative to changing a pupil’s school or assignment because of a manifest educational hardship
Text: http://gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_Status/billText.aspx?sy=2021&id=509&txtFormat=html
Issue: Manifest Educational Hardship (MEH)
HB 455 relative to the ability of a parent to enroll a child in the public school of their choice
Text: http://gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_Status/billText.aspx?sy=2021&id=677&txtFormat=html
Issue: open enrollment
By Michelle Levell