The proposed bill amends existing laws to allow parents in New Hampshire to enroll their children in any public school within the state, rather than being limited to schools in their resident district. This change is reflected in the modified introductory paragraph of RSA 193:1, which now permits enrollment in any public school, and updates the definition of "legal resident" in RSA 193:12 to indicate that residency is based on being domiciled in the state rather than a specific school district. The bill also clarifies that the commissioner of the department of education will only consider state residency when addressing residency issues.

Additionally, the bill establishes a framework for open enrollment policies, requiring each school district to create policies that allow student transfers both within and between districts, as well as from states with an interstate compact with New Hampshire. It mandates that districts publicly post school capacities and report annually on transfer applications. The bill eliminates application fees and specifies valid reasons for denying transfer applications, such as expulsion history or lack of capacity. Funding provisions are also modified, requiring the resident district to pay the receiving district an amount equal to the average cost per pupil, while maintaining the responsibility for children with disabilities with the resident district. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, with indeterminable fiscal impacts on state and local levels.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 193:12, 194-D:1, 194-D:2, 194-D:5, 194-D:7
SB101 text: 193:12, 194-D:1, 194-D:2, 194-D:5, 194-D:7