Students and Sponsor Outline 'Triple Win' Tuition‑credit Bill; Education Department Flags Implementation Costs

Supporters described HB 770 as a “triple win” policy to expand volunteer opportunities for high school students, let participants earn tuition credits at New Hampshire public colleges, and make higher education more affordable.

Representative Peter Schultz introduced the concept to the committee, saying the bill grew from constituent ideas and seeks three goals: increase high school service opportunities, provide tuition credit at in‑state higher education institutions for verified service, and increase affordable access to state colleges. “The details maybe are not, but really was to look at 3 key components that we call the, you know, the triple play,” Schultz said.

Students who have worked on the bill described the policy in personal terms. Ryan Casey, a junior at Bishop Brady High School who testified with his sister Morgan’s project background, said the proposal would “make higher education attainable and affordable to everyone interested in pursuing it,” and urged the committee to pursue the idea as a way to reduce future loan debt while strengthening communities.

The Department of Education provided a written fiscal note and a staff presentation that raised implementation concerns. Steve Appleby, director at the Department of Education, said the department expects it would need multiple full‑time staff to run the program and a software system to track students and approved volunteer sites. Appleby provided an initial estimate that staffing and system costs could amount to “between $100,000 and $500,000 a year” and that the number of eligible students is “indeterminate,” because participation could reach into tens of thousands if multiple grades participate.

Committee members asked how the program would treat students at private high schools and whether mandatory school service would be eligible for credits. Sponsor representatives said the intent was to focus on New Hampshire high school students and to exclude mandatory service hours; Representative Schultz and student witnesses said they expected amendments to address those details.

Appleby also noted statutory language in the bill that would require the commissioner to adopt rules defining approved volunteer sites, schools and institutions that participate, participant eligibility, and the distribution of tuition credits; Appleby said those rulemaking duties would drive the department’s staffing and software needs because the department would likely need to maintain statewide lists and perform oversight visits to validate sites.

The committee heard other technical questions about coordination with existing programs and whether the program would duplicate local or postsecondary incentives. The hearing closed with staff asking for additional materials and fiscal clarifications; no committee votes were taken.