05/31/2026
From all reports today about open enrollment, what has been done and how today went down, I am thoroughly disgusted with how the Republicans have manipulated this bill and gone against the will of the people.
At 2pm a meeting adjourned. But that wasn’t the end. Here is my summary of how all of this has unfolded since the Senate Republicans attached their bill, SB101 as a non germane bill to HB751, a bill about substance abuse recovery.
🚨 UPDATED OPEN ENROLLMENT ALERT: NH Republicans Just Forced HB 751 Out of Committee — It's Heading to the House
The Republicans behind Open Enrollment, specifically Sen. Tim Lang, will go as low as it gets to pass this bill, all legal, but against the will of the people and even their own fellow Republicans.
👉 DEVIOUS MOVE ONE:THIS WINTER:
Lang and the Senate Republicans co-opted an unrelated substance abuse recovery bill, HB 751, attaching his open enrollment bill SB 101 to it, hoping to get the House to vote on it without discussion.
👉 DEVIOUS MOVE TWO: LAST MONTH:
The House defeated it. It went to a Committee of Conference, 5 Republicans and 2 Democrats were appointed to hammer out a compromise between the House and Senate.
👉 DEVIOUS MOVE THREE: LAST WEEK:
Committee of Conference met and a new amendment was proposed by Rep. Noble capping the total number of transfers to 500 statewide and increasing each year. No hearing in the House, just a new amendment. Meeting adjourned with no decision made.
👉 LEGITIMATE MOVES: TODAY:
Committee of Conference met. Discussions took place then a vote to accept or reject. Rep. Balboni and Sen. Perkins Kwoka both voted Nay. Meeting adjourned without the needed seven signatures.
👉DEVIOUS MOVE FOUR: TODAY
After the meeting the two Democrats, Rep. Balboni, and Senator Perkins Kwoka were removed from the committee, replaced by Majority Leader Jason Osborne and Senate President Sharon Carson, both Republicans.
👉 DEVIOUS MOVE FIVE: TODAY:
Another meeting was held out of view of the public where a completely new amendment was presented, (see the amendment in comments) with all now 7 Republicans signing off, keeping this bill alive.
👉 DEVIOUS MOVE SIX: TODAY
The new amendment mandates a minimum of 10% of every district's student population must be eligible to switch schools, and requires the sending district to pay 80% of per pupil costs to the receiving district, straight out of your property taxes.
👉DEVIOUS MOVE SEVEN:
The new amendment changed the effective date from July 1, 2027 to July 1, 2026, 33 DAYS from now.
👉LEGITIMATE QUESTION:
How can any bill of this magnitude be implemented in 33 days?
THE BACKGROUND: (
⚠️ Over 2,100 people opposed open enrollment through online testimony. Ignored.
⚠️ Eight hours of public testimony. Fewer than 5 speakers in favor. Ignored.
⚠️ Over 100 towns had open enrollment warrant articles this spring. They either voted against it entirely or with a set minimum of students able to leave.
HAPPENED TODAY:
3 Senators and 4 Representatives, all Republicans neatly aligned when 2 Democrats would not agree, ignored every single one of those voters again. The number of times this bill and amendments have been rewritten tells you it is not ready for prime time. Even the Governor is questioning its viability.
THE HOUSE VOTE IS SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY JUNE 4 AT 10:00 AM. THERE IS STILL TIME TO TELL THEM TO VOTE “NON CONCUR”.
đź“ž CONTACT GOVERNOR AYOTTE:
Phone: (603) 271-2121
Email: [email protected]
Online: www.governor.nh.gov/contact-governor-ayotte
Office hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
🔍 FIND YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE:
Go to www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house and click "Who's My Legislator" to find your rep's contact information.
-Post from Kathy Keegan Malsbenden
