The bill, HB 741-FN, amends existing laws to enhance school choice by allowing parents to enroll their children in any public school outside their resident district. Key changes include the modification of RSA 193:1, I, which now requires parents to ensure their children attend "a public school" instead of being restricted to "the public school to which the child is assigned in the child's resident district." Additionally, the definition of "legal resident" in RSA 193:12, III is updated to clarify that residency pertains to being domiciled in the state rather than within a specific school district. The bill also establishes a framework for open enrollment policies, mandating that school districts create policies allowing student transfers without application fees and requiring them to publicly post school capacities and report on transfer applications annually.

Moreover, the bill specifies that military-connected students will receive admission preference and outlines valid reasons for denying transfer applications, such as expulsion or significant disciplinary issues. It modifies funding provisions to ensure no tuition is charged for public school attendance, with the resident district responsible for paying the receiving district a minimum of 80% of the average cost per pupil. The responsibility for providing services to children with disabilities remains with the resident district. The state board is tasked with adopting rules for the administration of open enrollment, and the bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2026. The fiscal impact of the bill is indeterminable, as it is unclear how many students will opt for schools outside their resident districts, leaving the financial implications uncertain.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 193:12, 194-D:1, 194-D:2, 194-D:5, 194-D:7
As Amended by the House: 193:12, 194-D:1, 194-D:2, 194-D:5, 194-D:7