Timothy Swaan

I support HB 1456. This bill does not alter education policy or diminish the Legislature’s constitutional role. It simply repeals a recent statutory “declaration of authority” that was unnecessary. The New Hampshire Constitution already defines the powers of each branch of government. If the Legislature has authority over public education, it does not need to restate that authority in statute. When one branch codifies a declaration of its own power, it risks turning constitutional structure into a political statement. Questions of constitutional authority are resolved by the courts, not by self-affirmation in statute. HB 1456 restores a clearer separation of powers and relies on the Constitution itself rather than symbolic assertions. For these reasons, I urge the Committee to recommend Ought to Pass.