State House News

I am here to express AFT-NH’s strong opposition to HB 1830, which would require firearm safety education in all public schools.

HB 1830 imposes a one-size-fits-all statewide mandate with no opportunity for local community input. Public schools already follow an extensive set of academic requirements under RSA 193‑E:2‑a, which defines the substantive educational content of an adequate education. This bill adds another unfunded, state‑ordered curriculum mandate—and for a non-academic subject—further eroding local control and pulling limited instructional time away from core academics.

I am here to express AFT-NH opposition to HB 1122.

HB 1122 is, plain and simple, a state mandate. It requires every school district to offer—and every high school student to take—a course in hunter education, wildlife management, and firearm responsibility. Public schools already operate under extensive statutory requirements for adequate education, and this bill piles on yet another unfunded, state‑imposed mandate that pulls time and resources away from core academics.

We strongly support SB 463—a bill that would prohibit knowingly carrying a firearm in a safe school zone. As educators and school staff, our members take on two profound responsibilities every day: to help students learn and grow, and to make sure that everyone – children and adults alike – returns home safely at the end of the day. That is the basic promise families expect from their public schools and our members take that responsibility deeply to heart. Allowing firearms in schools undermines that promise and puts both learning and safety unnecessarily at risk.

Legislature Convenes

HB 675 State-Mandated School Budget Caps Defeated

Huge Victory

The legislative session began on January 7^th and scores of retained bills from the 2025 session were addressed. The BIG news of the week is that HB 675 which would have established mandatory budget caps for public schools was defeated this week. The defeat of this harmful legislation only happened because you answered the call to contact your state representative. A big thank you for all your work. It was a great victory to start the session and we know we can count on you all to step up as we see the continued attacks on public education and workers’ rights.

On January 7^th, the NH House will vote on HB 675 which would establish state-mandated budget caps for local school districts despite the will of the voters. This bill would strip away local control from voters and limit school district budgets to an unreasonable state formula that does not reflect what NH students really need. We need to preserve local control and protect public schools.

"At AFT-NH, we strongly support every student’s freedom to explore the world through reading. School libraries play a vital role in this mission—they are often the only place where students can freely choose age-appropriate books without having to purchase them.

“Universal school vouchers are turning out to be exactly what we said they would be:” said Deb Howes, President of AFT-NH. “They are a government handout to mostly well-off families to pay for private school tuition, homeschooling, summer camp or enrichment activities that families previously paid for on their own."

AFT-NH is looking forward to learning more about the nominee for Commissioner of Education Caitlin Davis and her view of how the commissioner should lead the Department of Education. Because of her extensive background, working diligently and successfully in various divisions within the NH DOE, and her reputation of fostering strong, cooperative working relationships with the Granite State’s public school districts, we feel she is a candidate uniquely suited to lead the department and support our public school educators and students in these difficult times.