NH Republicans Revolt, Kill Open Enrollment Bill in 168–184 House Vote
A major Republican-backed education bill in New Hampshire failed Thursday after members of the party broke ranks, dealing a setback to one of the GOP’s top priorities.
The proposal, Senate Bill 101, would have required statewide open enrollment in public schools, but it collapsed after internal opposition surfaced.
According to the Concord Monitor, the bill failed 168–184, with all Democrats voting against it and 21 Republicans joining them, despite the GOP holding a House majority.
The legislation aimed to let students attend any public school with available space, but critics raised concerns about uneven impacts across districts and logistical challenges.
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“This is a significant setback for a major policy priority,” the Concord Monitor reported.
The vote highlights growing fractures within New Hampshire Republicans, where disagreements over education policy are now affecting legislative outcomes despite numerical control of the chamber.
It also raises uncertainty about whether similar school choice proposals can pass, even as supporters signal they will continue pushing alternatives through committee negotiations.
For now, the defeat leaves one of the session’s most closely watched education reforms stalled, with the next move likely coming in revised legislation.
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