CACR 29 - AS INTRODUCED
2022 SESSION
22-2711
07/08
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 29
RELATING TO: the general court.
PROVIDING THAT: the number of representatives be no more than 150 and the number of senators be no more than 35.
SPONSORS: Rep. Conley, Straf. 13; Rep. Klein-Knight, Hills. 11; Rep. Van Houten, Hills. 45; Rep. Vann, Hills. 24; Rep. McWilliams, Merr. 27; Rep. Caplan, Merr. 6; Rep. Bouchard, Hills. 11
COMMITTEE: Legislative Administration
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ANALYSIS
This constitutional amendment concurrent resolution reduces the amount of members of the state house of representatives from between 375 and 400 to no more than 200, increases the amount of state senators from 24 to 35, and increases the term salary for both houses to $6,000 and $7,500, respectively. All changes will take effect after the 2024 election.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type
22-2711
07/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Two
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING CONSITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
RELATING TO: the general court.
PROVIDING THAT: the number of representatives be no more than 150 and the number of senators be no more than 35.
Be it Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring, that the
Constitution of New Hampshire be amended as follows:
I. That article 9 of the second part of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
[Art.] 9. [Representatives Elected Every Second Year; Apportionment of Representatives.] There shall be in the legislature of this state a house of representatives, biennially elected and founded on principles of equality, and representation therein shall be as equal as circumstances will admit. The whole number of representatives to be chosen from the towns, wards, places, and representative districts thereof established hereunder, shall be not less than three hundred seventy-five or more than four hundred, until after the 2024 election when the whole number of representatives shall be no more than two hundred. As soon as possible after the convening of the next regular session of the legislature, and at the session in 1971, and every ten years thereafter, the legislature shall make an apportionment of representatives according to the last general census of the inhabitants of the state taken by authority of the United States or of this state. In making such apportionment, no town, ward or place shall be divided nor the boundaries thereof altered.
II. That article 15 of the second part of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
[Art.] 15. [Compensation of the Legislature.] The presiding officers of both houses of the legislature, shall severally receive out of the state treasury as compensation in full for their services for the term elected the sum of $250, and all other members thereof, seasonably attending and not departing without license, the sum of $200, until after the 2024 election where, at which time, the salaries for each member, per term, shall be $6,000 for the house and $7,500 for the senate. [and] Each member shall receive mileage for actual daily attendance on legislative days, but not after the legislature shall have been in session for 45 legislative days or after the first day of July following the annual assembly of the legislature, whichever occurs first; provided, however, that, when a special session shall be called by the governor or by a 2/3 vote of the then qualified members of each branch of the general court, such officers and members shall receive for attendance an additional compensation of $3 per day for a period not exceeding 15 days and the usual mileage. Nothing herein shall prevent the payment of additional mileage to members attending committee meetings or on other legislative business on nonlegislative days or prevent members from refusing salaries.
III. That article 25 of the second part of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
[Art.] 25. [Senate, How Constituted.] The senate shall consist of [twenty four] thirty five members.
IV. That the above amendment proposed to the constitution be submitted to the qualified voters of the state at the state general election to be held in November, 2022.
V. That the selectmen of all towns, cities, wards and places in the state are directed to insert in their warrants for the said 2022 election an article to the following effect: To decide whether the amendments of the constitution proposed by the 2022 session of the general court shall be approved.
VI. That the wording of the question put to the qualified voters shall be:
“Are you in favor of amending articles 9 and 25 of the second part of the constitution to read as follows:
[Art.] 9. [Representatives Elected Every Second Year; Apportionment of Representatives.] There shall be in the legislature of this state a house of representatives, biennially elected and founded on principles of equality, and representation therein shall be as equal as circumstances will admit. The whole number of representatives to be chosen from the towns, wards, places, and representative districts thereof established hereunder, shall be not less than three hundred seventy-five or more than four hundred, until after the 2024 election when the whole number of representatives shall be no more than two hundred. As soon as possible after the convening of the next regular session of the legislature, and at the session in 1971, and every ten years thereafter, the legislature shall make an apportionment of representatives according to the last general census of the inhabitants of the state taken by authority of the United States or of this state. In making such apportionment, no town, ward or place shall be divided nor the boundaries thereof altered.
[Art.] 15. [Compensation of the Legislature.] The presiding officers of both houses of the legislature, shall severally receive out of the state treasury as compensation in full for their services for the term elected the sum of $250, and all other members thereof, seasonably attending and not departing without license, the sum of $200, until after the 2024 election where, at which time, the salaries for each member, per term, shall be $6,000 for the house and $7,500 for the senate. Each member shall receive mileage for actual daily attendance on legislative days, but not after the legislature shall have been in session for 45 legislative days or after the first day of July following the annual assembly of the legislature, whichever occurs first; provided, however, that, when a special session shall be called by the governor or by a 2/3 vote of the then qualified members of each branch of the general court, such officers and members shall receive for attendance an additional compensation of $3 per day for a period not exceeding 15 days and the usual mileage. Nothing herein shall prevent the payment of additional mileage to members attending committee meetings or on other legislative business on nonlegislative days or prevent members from refusing salaries.
[Art.] 25 [Senate, How Constituted.] The senate shall consist of thirty five members.”
VI. That the secretary of state shall print the question to be submitted on a separate ballot or on the same ballot with other constitutional questions. The ballot containing the question shall include 2 squares next to the question allowing the voter to vote “Yes” or “No.” If no cross is made in either of the squares, the ballot shall not be counted on the question. The outside of the ballot shall be the same as the regular official ballot except that the words “Questions Relating to Constitutional Amendments proposed by the 2022 General Court” shall be printed in bold type at the top of the ballot.
VII. That if the proposed amendment is approved by 2/3 of those voting on the amendment, it becomes effective when the governor proclaims its adoption.
VIII. Voters' Guide.
AT THE PRESENT TIME, the New Hampshire House of Representatives is made up of between 375 and 400 members and the New Hampshire Senate is made up of 24 members.
IF THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED, starting after the 2024 election, the New Hampshire House of Representatives will have 200 members whose salaries shall each be $6,000, the New Hampshire Senate will have 35 members whose salaries shall each be $7,500, and members of the legislature shall have the ability to refuse their salary.
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 12, 2022 | House | Hearing |
| Jan. 12, 2022 | House | Exec Session |
| House | Floor Vote |
March 16, 2022: Inexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/15/2022 HJ 6
March 4, 2022: Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate (Vote 15-0; CC)
March 4, 2022: Executive Session: 01/12/2022 02:30 pm LOB301-303
Jan. 12, 2022: Public Hearing: 01/12/2022 2:30 p.m. LOB301-303
Dec. 1, 2021: Introduced 01/05/2022 and referred to Legislative Administration