New HampshireNew Hampshire school handbooks must explain how to report bullying
New Hampshire schools must put bullying reporting steps in handbooks by February 1, 2027, and give students who may have been bullied written information about help.
What it does
New Hampshire district schools, chartered public schools, and public academies must put steps for reporting bullying, online bullying, and payback for speaking up in student handbooks. Their boards must adopt the policy by February 1, 2027.
At district schools, chartered public schools, and public academies, officials must give students who may have been bullied a written copy of their rights, protections, and available help.
Each year, New Hampshire's education department must count how often schools get more time to notify parents or investigate. It must also count out-of-state cyberbullying cases reported, investigated, and reported to the attorney general's office.
Argument forStudents might find it easier to report bullying because their handbooks must name the people who can take a report.
Argument againstSchools may need more staff time to update handbooks and give written information to students who may have been bullied.
More detail
District school boards and charter or academy trustees must put bullying reporting steps in student handbooks. The requirement covers district schools, chartered public schools, and public academies. The steps must name who can take reports of bullying, bullying by phone or online, or payback for speaking up. The boards must adopt their written policies no later than six months after August 1, 2026.
School officials must give students who may have been bullied written information about their rights, protections, and available help. This covers students who may have been bullied at district schools, chartered public schools, and public academies. This section took effect August 1, 2026.
The state education department must include specified counts in its annual report to lawmakers. The counts cover waivers for notifying parents, extensions of investigations, and out-of-state cyberbullying cases reported, investigated, and reported to the attorney general's office. This reporting section took effect August 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jul 9Signed by Governor Kelly Ayotte Ayotte 07/02/2026; Chapter 205; eff. I. Sec 3 1/1/2027 II. Rem eff 8/1/2026Became Law
- Jun 17Enrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15 P. 45To Governor
- Jun 17Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 14Minor
- Jun 3Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2131e: AA VV (in recess of) 05/21/2026 HJ 14 P. 37
- Jun 3Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2131e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 05/21/2026); SJ 14Major
- May 7House Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1396s (Rep. Noble): MA DV 169-133 05/07/2026 HJ 12 P. 2
- Apr 16Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1396s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/16/2026; SJ 9Passed Senate
- Apr 16Committee Amendment # 2026-1396s, AA, VV; 04/16/2026; SJ 9
- Apr 10Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1396s, 04/16/2026, Vote 3-2; SC 14Minor
- Mar 17Hearing: 03/24/2026, Map Room, SL, 09:35 am; SC 11
- Jan 30Introduced 01/29/2026 and Referred to Education; SJ 3Minor
- Jan 7Ought to Pass with Amendment 2025-3071h: MA RC 190-149 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 135Passed House
- Vote recorded OTPA. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 7Amendment # 2025-3071h (NT): AA VV 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 133
- 2025
- Nov 19Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
- Nov 19Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-3071h (NT) 11/05/2025 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 51 P. 28Minor
- Oct 22Public Hearing on non-germane Amendment # 2025-3000h: 11/05/2025 09:30 am GP 232
- Oct 22Executive Session: 11/05/2025 02:00 pm GP 232
- Mar 6Executive Session: 03/12/2025 10:00 am LOB 205-207
- Mar 5Retained in Committee
- Feb 25Subcommittee Work Session: 03/03/2025 11:00 am LOB 203
- Jan 15Public Hearing: 01/23/2025 02:00 pm LOB 205-207
- Jan 6Introduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Education Policy and Administration HJ 2 P. 7Introduced
EducationPublic Safety