HB 374 - AS INTRODUCED
2021 SESSION
21-0227
06/05
HOUSE BILL 374
AN ACT relative to the official ballot referendum form of town meetings.
SPONSORS: Rep. Pauer, Hills. 26; Rep. McGuire, Merr. 29; Rep. Yokela, Rock. 33; Rep. Lewicke, Hills. 26; Rep. Warden, Hills. 15
COMMITTEE: Municipal and County Government
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ANALYSIS
This bill amends the method of adopting official ballot referendum form of meeting.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
21-0227
06/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty One
AN ACT relative to the official ballot referendum form of town meetings.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Method of Adopting Official Ballot Referendum Form of Meeting. Amend RSA 40:14, III to read as follows:
III. The local political subdivision shall place the question on the warrant of the annual meeting under the procedures set out in RSA 39:3 or RSA 197:6, and the question shall be voted on by official ballot in accordance with the procedures established in RSA 669:19-29, RSA 670:5-7, and RSA 671:20-30, including all requirements pertaining to absentee voting, polling places, and polling hours. [Voting on the question shall be by ballot, but the question shall not be placed on the official ballot used to elect officers. Polls shall remain open and ballots shall be accepted by the moderator for a period of not less than one hour following the completion of discussion on the question.]
2 Method of Adopting Official Ballot Referendum Form of Meeting. Amend RSA 40:14, VII to read as follows:
VII. Any local political subdivision which has adopted RSA 40:13 may consider rescinding its action in the manner described in paragraphs III-VI[, except that the question shall be placed on the official ballot]. The wording of the question shall be: "Shall we rescind the provisions of RSA 40:13 (known as SB 2), as adopted by the (local political subdivision) on (date of adoption), so that the official ballot will no longer be used for voting on all questions, but only for the election of officers and certain other questions for which the official ballot is required by state law?" A 3/5 majority of those voting on the question shall be required to rescind the provisions of this subdivision, except in the case of repeal by charter enactment under RSA 49-D. Only votes in the affirmative or negative shall be included in the calculation of the 3/5 majority.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| March 8, 2021 | House | Hearing |
| House | Floor Vote | |
| April 26, 2021 | Senate | Hearing |
| May 6, 2021 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| April 26, 2021 | Senate | Hearing |
| May 6, 2021 | Senate | Floor Vote |
May 6, 2021: Inexpedient to Legislate, RC 23Y-0N, MA === BILL KILLED ===; 05/06/2021; SJ 14
May 6, 2021: Inexpedient to Legislate, RC 23Y-0N, MA === BILL KILLED ===; 05/06/2021; SJ 14
April 28, 2021: Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Vote 5-0; CC; 05/06/2021; SC 22
May 6, 2021: Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Vote 5-0; CC; 05/06/2021; SC 22
April 26, 2021: Remote Hearing: 04/26/2021, 09:30 am; Links to join the hearing can be found in the Senate Calendar; SC 21
April 21, 2021: Remote Hearing: 04/26/2021, 09:30 am; Links to join the hearing can be found in the Senate Calendar; SC 21
April 13, 2021: Introduced 04/08/2021 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 12
April 8, 2021: Introduced 04/08/2021 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 12
April 9, 2021: Ought to Pass: MA DV 200-175 04/09/2021 HJ 7 P. 31
April 9, 2021: Ought to Pass: MA DV 200-175 04/09/2021 HJ 7 P. 31
: Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
March 12, 2021: Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
March 12, 2021: Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass (Vote 10-9; RC) HC 18 P. 57
: Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass (Vote 10-9; RC) HC 18 P. 57
March 8, 2021: Public Hearing: 03/08/2021 10:00 am Members of the public may attend using the following link: To join the webinar: https://www.zoom.us/j/96469796123 / Executive session on pending legislation may be held throughout the day (time permitting) from the time the committee is initially convened.
Jan. 10, 2021: Introduced (in recess of) 01/06/2021 and referred to Municipal and County Government HJ 2 P. 45
Jan. 6, 2021: Introduced (in recess of) 01/06/2021 and referred to Municipal and County Government HJ 2 P. 45