The "Centralized School ERP Procurement Act" mandates the New Hampshire Department of Education to create and issue a competitive request for proposals (RFP) for a centralized enterprise resource planning (ERP) service aimed at improving administrative functions in public school districts. This service is designed to enhance efficiency in areas such as finance, human resources, and student information systems, while also ensuring compliance with data privacy laws and industry-standard security practices. The bill emphasizes stakeholder engagement, requiring consultations with educational and financial representatives and public comment sessions prior to finalizing the RFP. It also includes provisions for optional participation, ensuring that no school district is required to adopt the ERP system.

The bill appropriates $250,000 from the general fund for FY 2027 to support the development of the RFP and related activities, with projected expenditures of $294,000 in FY 2027 and FY 2028, increasing to $306,000 in FY 2029. It allows for a pilot program involving up to six diverse districts to test the implementation and training of the ERP system. Importantly, the bill guarantees that districts retain ownership of their data, prohibits vendors from monetizing this data, and grants the Department of Education rulemaking authority to oversee the program. The costs for local districts to participate are indeterminable and could vary significantly based on their size and existing software systems.