HB1125

School districts and school boards should be totally nonpartisan.

HB 1125 --enabling school districts to adopt partisan school district elections. This bill is so outrageously obscene that it is hardly worth mention in light of the Constitution of these United States. Just when one one thinks they have heard it all, a bill such as this raises its ugly head.

I don't understand the point of this bill. It seems like it would force division. We vote for school board members based on town needs and the educational philosophy of those running. ITL this bill please.

Please keep school boards nonpartisan.

"Local school boards are run properly and in a nonpartisan manner. Additionally, there is no need to fix a system that is not broken. Making these local elections into partisan fights will create unnecessary division between Granite Staters."

I am opposed to this bill which would enable school districts to adopt partisan school elections. Governor Ayotte vetoed a similar bill stating, "Making these local elections into partisan fights will create unnecessary division between Granite Staters". I agree with the Governor - if something isn't broke, don't fix it. Respectfully, Melanie Leathers, Bradford, NH

Thank you for the opportunity to testify. I respectfully oppose HB 1125. This bill would allow school districts to adopt partisan elections for school board seats. Introducing party labels into school governance risks shifting attention away from students, budgets, and educational outcomes and toward national political dynamics that do not belong in local decision-making. New Hampshire’s current non-partisan system helps ensure that school board members are chosen for their qualifications, community engagement, and commitment to public education—not their party affiliation. Partisan elections would increase polarization, discourage independent or unaffiliated candidates, and make it harder for communities to collaborate across differences. There is no demonstrated problem that this bill solves, and it carries significant potential to undermine trust in school governance.

Partisan politics should have no place in school districts. Decisions made about our local schools should consider the best interest of the students and residents, not the agenda of a national political party.

Keep school boards non-partisan!

This legislation has been vetoed before. Why do the sponsors waste resources by re-running failed legislation?

Politics needs to stay out of education. Facts are what should be the determining factor. School education is for the kids, not the parents.

I state my opinion for this bill for the benefit of all NH voters.

unconstitutional

It seems clear to me that this bill is targeted at voting populations the bill's sponsors consider to be an electoral threat (whether true or not). Therefore, this bill is an unnecessary threat to fair and open elections in our state. I OPPOSE!

To quote Gov Ayotte “Local school board elections are run properly and in a nonpartisan manner, and there is no need to fix a system that is not broken,” Ayotte wrote in her veto message...“Making these local elections into partisan fights will create unnecessary division between Granite Staters.”

I oppose this bill. We need to keep local politics about people, not parties.

I oppose this bill HB1125

Partisan politics do not belong on school board.

Keep School Boards nonpartisan. Their concerns can be shared by people of any party, without political labels.

The governor has already vetoed this partisan bill once.

local school district elections should NOT be partisan! candidates should be elected based on the local community's awareness of their experience, intent to support children, support of public education and opinions on local issues!

I think this is a really bad idea. Making these local elections into partisan fights will create unnecessary division between Granite Staters.

Female

My name is Karen and I live and vote in Bristol. I am OPPOSED to this bill because I do not believe School Board Candidates should be able to run with party labels. It is imperative to keep partisan politics OUT of local schools. We already have enough division in our country - let's not make it worse. Please OPPOSE this legislation.

As Governor Ayotte said when a similar bill came up, "Local school board elections are run properly and in a nonpartisan manner, and there is no need to fix a system that is not broken," We have more than enough partisan fighting going on already. When it comes to our kids' education, let's all focus on what's best for that, and vote for the candidates who we think will produce the best result, without worrying about whether they are a Democrat, a Republican, or a member of some other party.