Revision: Feb. 10, 2023, 4:08 p.m.
2023 SESSION
23-1060.0
06/10
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION [resolution number]
RELATING TO: the general court.
PROVIDING THAT: the general court convene and organize on the same day as the governor's inauguration.
SPONSORS: [sponsors]
COMMITTEE: [committee]
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ANALYSIS
This bill changes the constitution so that the legislature will convene on the same day as the governor's inauguration.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type
23-1060.0
06/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Three
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING CONSITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
RELATING TO: the general court.
PROVIDING THAT: the general court convene and organize on the same day as the governor's inauguration.
Be it Resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring, that the
Constitution of New Hampshire be amended as follows:
I.(a) That article 3 of the second part of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
[Art.] 3d. [General Court, When to Meet and Dissolve.] The senate and house shall assemble biennially on the first Wednesday [of December] following the first Tuesday of January for organizational purposes in [even] odd numbered years[, and shall assemble annually on the first Wednesday following the first Tuesday in January,] and at such other times as they may judge necessary; and shall dissolve and be dissolved at 12:01 A.M. on the first Wednesday [of December] following the first Tuesday of January in [even] odd numbered years and shall be styled The General Court of New Hampshire.
(b) That article 33 of the second part of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
[Art.] 33. [Secretary of State to Count Votes for Senators and Notify Persons Elected.] And that there may be a due meeting of senators and representatives on the first Wednesday [of December] following the first Tuesday of January, biennially, the secretary of state shall, as soon as may be, examine the returned copy of such records; and fourteen days before the first Wednesday [of December] following the first Tuesday of January, [he] the secretary of state shall issue [his] a summons to such persons as appear to be chosen senators and representatives, by a plurality of votes, to attend and take their seats on that day.
(c) That article 43 of the second part of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
[Art.] 43. [In Cases of Disagreement Governor to Adjourn or Prorogue Legislature; If Causes Exist, May Convene Them Elsewhere.] In cases of disagreement between the two houses, with regard to the time or place of adjournment or prorogation, the governor, with advice of council, shall have a right to adjourn or prorogue the general court, not exceeding ninety days at any one time, as [he] the governor may determine the public good may require, and [he] the governor shall dissolve the same on the first Wednesday [of December] following the first Tuesday of January biennially. And, in cases whereby dangers may arise to the health or lives of the members from their attendance at the general court at any place, the governor may direct the session to be holden at some other the most convenient place within the state.
II. 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, 2024.
III. That the selectmen of all towns, cities, wards and places in the state are directed to insert in their warrants for the said 2024 election an article to the following effect: To decide whether the amendments of the constitution proposed by the 2023 session of the general court shall be approved.
IV. That the wording of the question put to the qualified voters shall be:
"Are you in favor of amending articles 3, 33, and 43 of the second part of the constitution to read as follows:
[Art.] 3d. [General Court, When to Meet and Dissolve.] The senate and house shall assemble biennially on the first Wednesday following the first Tuesday of January for organizational purposes in odd numbered years and at such other times as they may judge necessary; and shall dissolve and be dissolved at 12:01 A.M. on the first Wednesday following the first Tuesday of January in odd numbered years and shall be styled The General Court of New Hampshire.
[Art.] 33. [Secretary of State to Count Votes for Senators and Notify Persons Elected.] And that there may be a due meeting of senators and representatives on the first Wednesday following the first Tuesday of January, biennially, the secretary of state shall, as soon as may be, examine the returned copy of such records; and fourteen days before the first Wednesday following the first Tuesday of January, the secretary of state shall issue a summons to such persons as appear to be chosen senators and representatives, by a plurality of votes, to attend and take their seats on that day.
[Art.] 43. [In Cases of Disagreement Governor to Adjourn or Prorogue Legislature; If Causes Exist, May Convene Them Elsewhere.] In cases of disagreement between the two houses, with regard to the time or place of adjournment or prorogation, the governor, with advice of council, shall have a right to adjourn or prorogue the general court, not exceeding ninety days at any one time, as the governor may determine the public good may require, and the governor shall dissolve the same on the first Wednesday following the first Tuesday of January biennially. And, in cases whereby dangers may arise to the health or lives of the members from their attendance at the general court at any place, the governor may direct the session to be holden at some other the most convenient place within the state.”
V. That the secretary of state shall print the question to be submitted on a separate ballot with other constitutional questions or on the official ballot. The ballot containing the question shall include 2 ovals next to the question allowing the voter to vote “Yes” or “No.” If no oval is marked, 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 2023 General Court” shall be printed in bold type at the top of the ballot.
VI. 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.
VII. Voters' Guide.
AT THE PRESENT TIME, members of the senate and house of representatives meet biennially on the first Wednesday of December for organizational purposes in even numbered years and dissolve on the first Wednesday of December in even numbered years.
IF THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED, members of the senate and house of representatives would meet and dissolve biennially on the first Wednesday following the first Tuesday of January in odd numbered years in order to organize and convene on the same day as the governor's inauguration.