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HB 603-FN-A - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2025 SESSION

25-0293

02/05

 

HOUSE BILL 603-FN-A

 

AN ACT relative to increasing the adequacy grant for pupils receiving special education services.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. H. Howard, Straf. 4; Rep. Damon, Sull. 8; Rep. Selig, Straf. 10; Rep. Wheeler, Hills. 33; Rep. A. Murray, Hills. 20; Rep. N. Germana, Ches. 15; Sen. Prentiss, Dist 5; Sen. Watters, Dist 4

 

COMMITTEE: Education Funding

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill increases the annual cost of an adequate eduction for each pupil in ADMR receiving special education services.

 

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

25-0293

02/05

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five

 

AN ACT relative to increasing the adequacy grant for pupils receiving special education services.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  Cost of an Opportunity for an Adequate Education.  Amend RSA 198:40-a to read as follows:

198:40-a Cost of an Opportunity for an Adequate Education.

I. For the biennium beginning July 1, [2023,] 2025, the annual cost of providing the opportunity for an adequate education as defined in RSA 193-E:2-a shall be as specified in paragraph II. The department shall adjust the rates specified in this paragraph in accordance with RSA 198:40-d.

II.(a) A cost of $4,100 per pupil in the ADMR, plus differentiated aid as follows:

(b) An additional $2,300 for each pupil in the ADMR who is eligible for a free or reduced price meal anytime during the determination year; plus

(c) An additional $800 for each pupil in the ADMR who is an English language learner anytime during the determination year; plus

(d) An additional [$2,100] $29,556 for each pupil in the ADMR who is receiving special education services anytime during the determination year.

III. The sum total calculated under paragraph II shall be the cost of an adequate education. The department shall determine the cost of an adequate education for each municipality based on the ADMR of pupils who reside in that municipality.

2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.

 

LBA

25-0293

1/7/25

 

HB 603-FN-A- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

 

AN ACT relative to increasing the adequacy grant for pupils receiving special education services.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:   

 

Estimated State Impact

 

FY 2025

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

Revenue Fund(s)

None

Expenditures*

$0

FY 2026

District Adequacy - Approximately $841.5M

Charter School Grants - Approximately $26.8M

Education Freedom Accounts - Approximately $10.9M

Total - Approximately $879.2M

 

FY 2027 and Beyond

Indeterminable, but similar magnitude expected

(see methodology below)

Funding Source(s)

Education Trust Fund

Appropriations*

$0

Statutory Open Warrant1

Funding Source(s)

Education Trust Fund

*Expenditure = Cost of bill                *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill

 

Estimated Political Subdivision Impact

 

FY 2025

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

Local Revenue

$0

FY 2026

Approximately $841.5M

 

FY 2027 and Beyond

Indeterminable, but similar magnitude expected

(see methodology below)

Local Expenditures

$0

$0

$0

$0

 

 

METHODOLOGY:

This bill, effective for FY 2026, increases the differentiated aid amount for students receiving special education services under the cost of an opportunity for an adequate education in RSA 198:40-a, II, as follows:

 

 

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

Current Law

$2,184.84

$2,228.54

$2,273.11

Proposed

$29,556.00

$30,147.12

$30,750.06

Increase

$27,371.16

$27,918.58

$28,476.95

 

This change will impact district adequacy grants, charter school grants, and education freedom accounts (EFAs).

 

District Adequacy

Based on preliminary data, this bill will increase adequacy grants to school districts by an estimated $841,493,389 in FY 2026:

 

 

Current Law

Proposed

Increase

Adequacy Grant

$716,948,319

$1,558,441,708

$841,493,389

Statewide Education Property Tax (SWEPT)

$363,516,836

$363,516,836

$0

Final State Grant

$1,080,465,155

$1,921,958,544

$841,493,389

 

Data for FY 2027 and FY 2028 is not yet available, therefore, this bill’s impact on district adequacy beyond FY 2026 is indeterminable, however expected to be in the $840 million to $850 million range per year.

 

Charter School Grants

Based on the estimated student count of 978 receiving special education services, this bill would increase aid to charter schools by $26,768,994 in FY 2026 ($27,371.16 x 978 students). Data to estimate FY 2027 and FY 2028 student counts is not yet available, therefore, this bill’s impact on charter school grants beyond FY 2026 is indeterminable, however expected to be approximately $27 million per year.

 

Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs)

Based on the estimated student count of 400 receiving special education services, this bill would increase EFAs by $10,948,464 in FY 2026 ($27,371.16 x 400 students). Data to estimate FY 2027 and FY 2028 student counts is not yet available, therefore, this bill’s impact on education freedom accounts beyond FY 2026 is indeterminable, however expected to be approximately $11 million per year.

 

1Statutorily, the Department of Education may draw a warrant to make all necessary district adequacy, charter school grant, and EFA grant payments, regardless of available funds in the education trust fund, with any deficit at the end of the fiscal year covered by the general fund. It should be noted that the most recently available preliminary draft from the FY 2024 State of New Hampshire Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) reports the following balances, as of June 30, 2024 (actual amounts may differ when final audited report is released):

 

Education Trust Fund………. $158.9 million

 General Fund………. $79.7 million

           Revenue Stabilization Reserve Account……… $292.5 million

     (“Rainy Day Fund”)

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Education