HB 1113 - AS INTRODUCED
2026 SESSION
26-2646
08/06
HOUSE BILL 1113
AN ACT enabling towns to establish a 3-year term for town moderators.
SPONSORS: Rep. D. Murphy, Ches. 11
COMMITTEE: Municipal and County Government
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ANALYSIS
This bill enables towns to establish a 3-year term for town moderators.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-2646
08/06
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT enabling towns to establish a 3-year term for town moderators.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Optional Term for Moderators. Amend RSA 40 by inserting after section 1 the following new section:
40:1-a Three-Year Term; Moderator.
I. At any annual town meeting under an article in the warrant, the voters may vote to determine if they are in favor of having a 3-year term for the moderator. The governing body will determine whether the vote will be by official ballot or by special ballot. If the town has adopted an official ballot and the governing body decides such vote will be by official ballot, the clerk shall cause the following question to be printed on said ballot: "Are you in favor of changing the term of the moderator from 2 years to 3 years, beginning with the term of the moderator to be elected at next year's regular town meeting?" Said question shall be printed in the form prescribed by RSA 656:13. If the town has not adopted an official ballot or the governing body decides the vote will be by special ballot, the clerk shall cause the same question to be printed upon special ballots which shall be used to determine the vote of the town. If a majority of those voting on the question vote in favor of a 3-year term, at the next annual meeting after the vote of approval, the town shall elect a moderator for the 3-year term.
II. After a 3-year term for moderator has been established, at any subsequent annual town meeting, under an article in the warrant, the voters may vote to determine if they are in favor of continuing to have a 3-year term for the moderator. The governing body shall determine whether the vote will be by official ballot or by special ballot. If the town has adopted an official ballot and the governing body decides such vote will be by official ballot, the clerk shall cause the following question to be printed on said ballot: "Are you in favor of changing the term of the moderator from 3 years to 2 years, beginning at the end of the 3-year term of the moderator elected this year (last year or 2 years ago)?" Said question shall be printed in the form prescribed by RSA 656:13. If the town has not adopted an official ballot or the governing body decides the vote will be by special ballot, the clerk shall cause the same question to be printed upon special ballots which shall be used during the open, business session of the town meeting to determine the vote of the town. If a majority of those voting on the question do not vote in favor of continuing the 3-year term, then at the subsequent annual town meeting occurring at the completion of the most recently elected moderator's 3-year term, the voters shall elect a moderator for a 2-year term.?
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
Dec. 1, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Municipal and County Government