New Hampshire House Bill HB1795

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 12/17/25
• Refer: 12/17/25
• Report Pass: 2/25/26
• Engrossed: 3/6/26
• Refer: 3/6/26
• Report Pass: 3/24/26
• Enrolled: 5/11/26
• Chaptered: 5/19/26
• Passed: 5/19/26

Caption

requiring criminal history record checks for the renewal of teaching licenses.

Summary

HB 1795 requires educators renewing a New Hampshire teaching credential to submit a criminal history release form to the Department of Education as a condition of renewal. The bill applies to a broad definition of “educator,” including teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals, school nurses, instructional specialists, and educational specialists, and it requires renewal applicants to complete the check every three years at least 60 days before expiration. The bill also updates the Department of Education’s licensing rulemaking authority to include secure background check systems for both first-time applicants and renewing credential holders. In addition, it expands the criminal history review process to include findings of abuse and neglect from New Hampshire’s central registry and, with approval, other states’ registries. The act is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2027.

Impact

HB 1795 amends RSA 189:13-c and RSA 21-N:9 to make criminal history record checks part of the educator license renewal process, rather than only an initial licensing requirement. It broadens the scope of review by adding neglect to the records considered and by authorizing access to abuse and neglect registry information, which could affect renewal eligibility and administrative screening procedures for a wide range of school personnel. The bill primarily affects the Department of Education, credential holders, and the state’s educator licensing system; the fiscal note indicates no expected budget impact for the Department of Safety, while the Department of Education had not yet provided enough information for a completed fiscal note.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to have been treated as a standard education and licensing administration bill, with no recorded committee transcript debate or floor vote controversy in the provided materials. The absence of votes or transcripts suggests there is no documented public split in the available record, and the bill was adopted by both bodies in the version provided. Overall, the available context points to a generally procedural or administrative posture rather than a highly contentious one.

Contention

The main policy issue is the expansion of background screening to renewal applicants, not just new applicants, which may raise concerns about administrative burden, privacy, and the potential effect on existing educators whose credentials are up for renewal. Another point of possible contention is the inclusion of abuse and neglect registry findings, including access to other states’ registries, which could affect who is eligible to renew and how cross-state information is used. No specific opposing arguments or named dissenting groups appear in the provided transcripts or vote history.