School Bus Driver Certificate Requirements
Summary
NH HB1758, passed by the House on February 19, 2026, amends requirements for school bus driver certificates. The bill has been referred to the Senate Transportation Committee, which will hold a public hearing on April 7, 2026. The bill modifies RSA 260 regarding school bus driver qualifications and certification requirements.
What changed
NH HB1758 proposes changes to school bus driver certificate requirements under RSA 260. The bill passed the House on February 19, 2026, and was introduced in the Senate on March 31, 2026. Key provisions include potential new eligibility criteria, training requirements, or certification standards for individuals operating school buses.
The Senate Transportation Committee is holding a public hearing on April 7, 2026, where stakeholders may provide testimony. School districts, school bus contractors, and transportation officials should review the proposed requirements and consider submitting public comments. The bill is due out of committee by March 5, 2026, though this date appears to have passed relative to the current Senate status.
What to do next
- Review HB1758 bill text to identify specific certificate requirement changes
- Prepare public comment testimony for Senate Transportation Committee hearing on April 7, 2026
- Notify affected school bus drivers and transportation staff of potential new requirements
Source document (simplified)
| | \|
NH
General Court
New Query \| |
NH
General Court
New Query | | General Court of New Hampshire - Bill
Status System
\| Previous Bill \| Result List \| Next Bill \| | Previous Bill | Result List | Next Bill | | \|
Bill Docket
Bill Text \| |
Bill Docket
Bill Text |
|
NH
General Court
New Query | | | | | | | | | |
| Previous Bill | Result List | Next Bill | | | | | | | |
|
Bill Docket
Bill Text | | | | | | | | | |
| HB1758 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bill Title: ** relative to school bus drivers' certificates. | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| General
Status: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| \| LSR#: 2641 \| Body: H \| Local Govt: N \| Chapter#: None \| Gen Status: SENATE \| | | | LSR#: 2641 | Body: H | Local Govt: N | Chapter#: None | Gen Status: SENATE | | | | | |
| LSR#: 2641 | Body: H | Local Govt: N | Chapter#: None | Gen Status: SENATE | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| House Status | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Status | **** PASSED/ADOPTED | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Status Date | **** | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Current Committee | **** Transportation | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Committee of Referral | **** Transportation | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Date Introduced | **** 1/7/2026 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Due out of Committee | **** 3/5/2026 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Floor Date | ****** 2/19/2026 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Senate Status | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Status | **** IN COMMITTEE | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Status Date | **** 3/31/2026 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Current Committee | **** Transportation | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Committee of Referral | **** Transportation | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Date Introduced | **** 2/19/2026 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Due out of Committee | **** | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Floor Date | **** | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Sponsors | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | \| Thomas Oppel (D) \| David Fracht (D) \| Hope Damon (D) \|
\| Henry Giasson (R) \| \| \| | | Thomas Oppel (D) | David Fracht (D) | Hope Damon (D) | Henry Giasson (R) | | | | | | |
| Thomas Oppel (D) | David Fracht (D) | Hope Damon (D) | | | | | | | | | | |
| Henry Giasson (R) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Next/Last Hearing: SENATE Transportation | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| \| Date: \| Time: \| Place: \| Majority Report: \| Minority
Report: \|
\| 04/07/2026 \| 01:10 PM \| SH Room 122-123 \| \| None \| | | | Date: | Time: | Place: | Majority Report: | Minority
Report: | 04/07/2026 | 01:10 PM | SH Room 122-123 | | None |
| Date: | Time: | Place: | Majority Report: | Minority
Report: | | | | | | | | |
| 04/07/2026 | 01:10 PM | SH Room 122-123 | | None | | | | | | | | |
| \| Previous Bill \| Result List \| Next Bill \| | | | Previous Bill | Result List | Next Bill | | | | | | | |
| Previous Bill | Result List | Next Bill | | | | | | | | | | | | |
NH
General Court
New Query | |
NH
General Court
New Query | | General Court of New Hampshire - Bill
Status System
| Previous Bill | Result List | Next Bill | | Previous Bill | Result List | Next Bill | | |
Bill Docket
Bill Text | |
Bill Docket
Bill Text | HB1758 | | | Bill Title: ** relative to school bus drivers' certificates. | | | | | | General
Status: | | | | LSR#: 2641 | Body: H | Local Govt: N | Chapter#: None | Gen Status: SENATE | | | | LSR#: 2641 | Body: H | Local Govt: N | Chapter#: None | Gen Status: SENATE | | | | House Status | | | | Status | **** PASSED/ADOPTED | | Status Date | **** | | Current Committee | **** Transportation | | Committee of Referral | **** Transportation | | Date Introduced | **** 1/7/2026 | | Due out of Committee | **** 3/5/2026 | | Floor Date | ****** 2/19/2026 | | | | | | | Senate Status | | | | Status | **** IN COMMITTEE | | Status Date | **** 3/31/2026 | | Current Committee | **** Transportation | | Committee of Referral | **** Transportation | | Date Introduced | **** 2/19/2026 | | Due out of Committee | **** | | Floor Date | **** | | | | | | | Sponsors | | | | | Thomas Oppel (D) | David Fracht (D) | Hope Damon (D) |
| Henry Giasson (R) | | | | | Thomas Oppel (D) | David Fracht (D) | Hope Damon (D) | Henry Giasson (R) | | | | | | Next/Last Hearing: SENATE Transportation | | | | Date: | Time: | Place: | Majority Report: | Minority
Report: |
| 04/07/2026 | 01:10 PM | SH Room 122-123 | | None | | | | Date: | Time: | Place: | Majority Report: | Minority
Report: | 04/07/2026 | 01:10 PM | SH Room 122-123 | | None | | Previous Bill | Result List | Next Bill | | | | Previous Bill | Result List | Next Bill |
| |
NH
General Court
New Query | |
NH
General Court
New Query | | General Court of New Hampshire - Bill
Status System
| Previous Bill | Result List | Next Bill | | Previous Bill | Result List | Next Bill | | |
Bill Docket
Bill Text | |
Bill Docket
Bill Text | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
NH
General Court
New Query | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Previous Bill | Result List | Next Bill | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Bill Docket
Bill Text | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| HB1758 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bill Title: ** relative to school bus drivers' certificates. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| General
Status: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | LSR#: 2641 | Body: H | Local Govt: N | Chapter#: None | Gen Status: SENATE | | | | LSR#: 2641 | Body: H | Local Govt: N | Chapter#: None | Gen Status: SENATE | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| LSR#: 2641 | Body: H | Local Govt: N | Chapter#: None | Gen Status: SENATE | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| House Status | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Status | **** PASSED/ADOPTED | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Status Date | **** | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Current Committee | **** Transportation | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Committee of Referral | **** Transportation | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Date Introduced | **** 1/7/2026 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Due out of Committee | **** 3/5/2026 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Floor Date | ****** 2/19/2026 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Senate Status | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Status | **** IN COMMITTEE | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Status Date | **** 3/31/2026 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Current Committee | **** Transportation | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Committee of Referral | **** Transportation | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Date Introduced | **** 2/19/2026 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Due out of Committee | **** | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Floor Date | **** | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Sponsors | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | Thomas Oppel (D) | David Fracht (D) | Hope Damon (D) |
| Henry Giasson (R) | | | | | Thomas Oppel (D) | David Fracht (D) | Hope Damon (D) | Henry Giasson (R) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Thomas Oppel (D) | David Fracht (D) | Hope Damon (D) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Henry Giasson (R) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Next/Last Hearing: SENATE Transportation | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Date: | Time: | Place: | Majority Report: | Minority
Report: |
| 04/07/2026 | 01:10 PM | SH Room 122-123 | | None | | | | Date: | Time: | Place: | Majority Report: | Minority
Report: | 04/07/2026 | 01:10 PM | SH Room 122-123 | | None | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Date: | Time: | Place: | Majority Report: | Minority
Report: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 04/07/2026 | 01:10 PM | SH Room 122-123 | | None | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Previous Bill | Result List | Next Bill | | | | Previous Bill | Result List | Next Bill | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Previous Bill | Result List | Next Bill | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Named provisions
Related changes
Source
Classification
Who this affects
Taxonomy
Browse Categories
Get Government & Legislation alerts
Weekly digest. AI-summarized, no noise.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime.
Get alerts for this source
We'll email you when State Bills: New Hampshire publishes new changes.