Walter Elly

My name is Walter Elly. I reside in Madbury and am an independent home education parent. I am submitting this testimony to express my strong opposition to House Bill 738 (2025). This bill - now in its third iteration - replicates language from previous proposals (HB 1664 in 2022 and HB 628 in 2024) that have sought to impose background checks on education providers receiving taxpayer funds. Those proposals were rejected, and the language has not materially changed in this iteration and third attempt. Therefore, this committee and the legislature should continue to oppose this bill. As to why to oppose it, as with the other variants: this bill’s reach is alarmingly broad. It could apply to formal education providers as well as to family-based learning, co-ops, book clubs, field trips, and other enrichment activities. The bill’s ambiguous language - using “home education” as defined in RSA 193:1 and RSA 193-A instead of specifically addressing the Education Freedom Account (RSA 194-F) - opens the door for it to be applied far beyond its intended scope. The reference to tax credits (under RSA 77-G,) which support many low-income home education families through private donations, further underscores its potential to cause unintended harm. I urge the committee to reject HB 738 in its entirety and preserve the educational freedom and autonomy of home education families. It was a bad idea for New Hampshire in 2022, it was a bad idea for New Hampshire last year, and it's still a bad idea for New Hampshire today. Thank you for considering my testimony.