Bill > HB549

This bill modifies New Hampshire's Education Freedom Account (EFA) program by prohibiting the use of EFA funds at religious schools or for religious education and training. Specifically, the bill adds a requirement that higher education institutions receiving EFA funds must be accredited and explicitly states that EFA funds cannot be used for religious educational purposes. The bill also repeals several existing provisions related to education service providers, including protections against disadvantaging providers with religiously-based policies and regulations concerning legal proceedings and provider independence. These changes will take effect on July 1, 2025, and aim to restrict the use of state education funds in religious educational settings. The fiscal note indicates that while the direct financial impact is expected to be minimal, the full effect on the Education Trust Fund and EFA program participation is currently uncertain and will depend on how participants adapt to the new restrictions.

Education

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_status.aspx?lsr=0234&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=HB549