Bill Commons
--- version:As Amended by the House
+++ version:Introduced
@@ -1,57 +1,46 @@
-HB 1467-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
-19Feb2026... 0522h
+HB1467-FN-ASINTRODUCED
2026 SESSION
26-3070
12/09
HOUSE BILL 1467-FN
-AN ACT relative to the New Hampshire seal of civic excellence and engagement program.
+AN ACT establishing the New Hampshire Seal of Civic Excellence and Engagement
+program.
SPONSORS: Rep. D. Paige, Carr. 1; Rep. Moffett, Merr. 4; Rep. Cornell, Hills. 22; Sen. Carson,
Dist 14
COMMITTEE: Education Policy and Administration
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-AMENDED ANALYSIS
-This bill:
-I. Establishes the required criteria for a high school student to be awarded the New Hampshire
-seal of civic excellence and engagement.
-II. Authorizes school boards and school administrative unit boards to award qualifying
+ANALYSIS
+This bill requires the department of education to develop the New Hampshire Seal of Civic
+Engagement and Excellence Program. The bill also authorizes school boards to award qualifying
graduating high school students the distinction of a seal affixed to their diploma and completion of
the program referenced on their transcript.
-III. Authorizes the state board of education to adopt rules relative to the program.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
-HB 1467-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
-19Feb2026... 0522h 26-3070
+HB1467-FN-ASINTRODUCED
+26-3070
12/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
-AN ACT relative to the New Hampshire seal of civic excellence and engagement program.
+AN ACT establishing the New Hampshire Seal of Civic Excellence and Engagement
+program.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Seal of Civic Excellence and Engagement Program. Amend RSA 189 by
inserting after section 11-d the following new section:
-189:11-e Seal of Civic Excellence and Engagement Program.
-I. A school board or school administrative unit board may affix the New Hampshire state
-seal of civic excellence and engagement on a diploma awarded to a student graduating from high
-school, as defined in RSA 194:23. The seal shall signify a student who has achieved a high level of
-proficiency in civics education and engagement by satisfying the established criteria. The criteria
-shall include, but is not limited to:
-(a) Successful completion of civics education beyond the minimum requirements
-prescribed by law or adopted locally;
-(b) Demonstrated proficiency in civics knowledge, including comparative forms of
-governance, through a standardized assessment, portfolio of work, or other mastery based
-assessment as approved by the school board or school administrative unit board; and
-(c)(1) Participation in at least one extracurricular activity or project evidencing
-citizenship and constitutional republican government knowledge attainment as approved by the
-school board or school administrative unit board; or
-(2) Participation in student government activities.
-II. The state board of education shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to the
-seal of civic excellence and engagement program in order to assist school boards and school
-administrative unit boards in the consistent application of this section in recognizing high student
-proficiency. Such rules shall further articulate the qualification criteria to promote rigor and
-consistency in application statewide, including comparable expectations for civic engagement
-activities across districts and clear definition of the civic knowledge and skills to be measured, while
-allowing multiple locally determined pathways for assessment.
+189:11-e Seal of Civic Excellence and Engagement Program. The department of education shall
+establish criteria by which a school board or school administrative unit board may affix the New
+Hampshire state seal of civic excellence and engagement on a diploma awarded to a student
+graduating from high school, as defined in RSA 194:23. The seal shall signify a student who has
+achieved a high level of proficiency in civics education and engagement by satisfying the established
+criteria. The criteria shall include, but is not limited to:
+I. Successful completion of social studies courses for at least 2 school years, one of which
+shall be a course on the United States government or civics;
+II. Participation in at least one civic engagement project (such as community service),
+participation in student government, or involvement in a civic organization; and
+III. Demonstrated proficiency in civics knowledge through a standardized assessment,
+portfolio of work that includes essays, projects, or presentations related to civics, or other mastery-
+based assessment or work.
2 New Section; Diplomas; Seal of Civic Excellence and Engagement. Amend RSA 194 by
inserting after section 23-f the following new section:
194:23-g Diplomas; Seal of Civic Excellence and Engagement. Commencing with the classes
@@ -59,6 +48,9 @@
administrative unit board may affix the New Hampshire state seal of civic excellence and
engagement, pursuant to RSA 189:11-e, to a diploma awarded to a student who has achieved a high
level of proficiency in civics education and engagement. The school board or school administrative
+unit board shall include on such student's transcript a designation that the student received the New
+Hampshire state seal of civic excellence and engagement.
+3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
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-HB 1467-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
-- Page 2 -
-unit board shall include on such student's transcript a designation that the student received the New
-Hampshire state seal of civic excellence and engagement.
-3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect on July 4, 2026.
-1
-2
-3
LBA
26-3070
-03/03/2026
-HB 1467-FN- FISCAL NOTE
-AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT #2026-0522h)
-AN ACT relative to the New Hampshire seal of civic excellence and engagement program.
-FISCAL IMPACT:
-The Legislative Budget Assistant has determined that this legislation has a total fiscal impact
-of less than $10,000 in each of the fiscal years 2026 through 2029.
-AGENCIES CONTACTED:
+11/30/25
+HB1467-FN-FISCALNOTE
+ASINTRODUCED
+AN ACT establishing the New Hampshire Seal of Civic Excellence and Engagement
+program.
+FISCALIMPACT: Thisbilldoesnotprovidefunding,nordoesitauthorizenewpositions.
+EstimatedStateImpact
+FY2026 FY2027 FY2028 FY2029
+Revenue $0 $0 $0 $0
+Revenue Fund(s) None
+Expenditures* $0 $81,000 $85,000 $89,000
+Funding Source(s) General Fund
+Appropriations* $0 $0 $0 $0
+Funding Source(s) None
+*Expenditure=Costofbill *Appropriation=Authorizedfundingtocovercostofbill
+EstimatedPoliticalSubdivisionImpact
+FY2026 FY2027 FY2028 FY2029
+LocalRevenue $0 $0 $0 $0
+LocalExpenditures $0 Indeterminable
+METHODOLOGY:
+This bill establishes the New Hampshire Seal of Civic Engagement and Excellence Program, to
+be developed and administered by the Department of Education. The Department states it
+cannot assume this responsibility with its current resources and would require one new position
+(SOC 23-03) to perform required duties. The position cost is estimated to be $81,000 in FY 2027,
+$85,000 in FY 2028, and $89,000 in FY 2029. This bill provides neither an appropriation nor
+authorization for new personnel. The Department adds there could be local costs incurred to
+implement this program, however those costs are indeterminable and would vary by district.
+AGENCIESCONTACTED:
Department of Education

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