HB 1187-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES
05/07/2026 1596s
4Jun2026... 2096CofC
2026 SESSION
26-2556
08/07
HOUSE BILL 1187-FN
SPONSORS: Rep. Berry, Hills. 44; Rep. Qualey, Ches. 18
COMMITTEE: Election Law
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ANALYSIS
This bill allows candidates for state representative in a special election to file for 3 days with their town or city clerk.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
05/07/2026 1596s
4Jun2026... 2096CofC 26-2556
08/07
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Nomination of Candidates to the General Court; House of Representatives; Special Election. RSA 655:81, III is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:
III. Under RSA 655:15, state representative candidates may file with the secretary of state, except that a state representative candidate may file with his or her appropriate town or city clerk under RSA 655:15, in which case the town or city clerk shall forward each declaration of candidate to the secretary of state on the same day on which the declaration is filed. During the week of filing, if the town or city clerk's office shall not be open for at least 3 days and for at least 2 hours on those days, the clerk shall post contact information for the clerk, deputy clerk, or another election official who the clerk has authorized to accept the declaration of candidacy. The clerk, deputy clerk, or other election official whose contact information is posted shall, in response to being contacted, arrange a time either on that day or within the next business day, during regular business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., to accept the declaration of candidacy. The dates and times town and city clerks' offices are open for filing during the filing period and any additional contact information shall be listed on the secretary of state's website; and
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
26-2556
5/8/26
HB 1187-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE (AMENDMENT #2026-1596s)
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Legislative Budget Assistant has determined that this legislation has a total fiscal impact of less than $10,000 in each of the fiscal years 2026 through 2029.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of State and New Hampshire Municipal Association
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| April 21, 2026 | 2026-1596s |
| May 27, 2026 | 2026-2096CofC |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 3, 2026 | House | Hearing |
| Feb. 10, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| Feb. 17, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| Feb. 3, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
| March 31, 2026 | Senate | Hearing |
| Senate | Floor Vote | |
| June 4, 2026 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| June 4, 2026 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| June 4, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
June 4, 2026: Conference Committee Report 2026-2096c: Adopted, VV 06/04/2026 HJ 15
May 29, 2026: Conference Committee Report # 2026-2096c, Adopted, VV; 06/04/2026; SJ 14
May 28, 2026: Conference Committee Report Filed, # 2026-2096c; 06/04/2026
May 27, 2026: Conferee Change: Rep. Newsom Replaces Rep. Muirhead 05/27/2026 HJ 14
May 27, 2026: Conference Committee Meeting: 05/27/2026 09:50 am GP 228
May 20, 2026: President Appoints: Senators Gray, Lang, Perkins Kwoka; (In Recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
May 20, 2026: Sen. Gray Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; (In recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
May 19, 2026: Speaker Appoints: Reps. Berry, Qualey, Lane, Muirhead 05/14/2026 HJ 13
May 19, 2026: House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1596s and Requests CofC (Rep. Berry): MA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13
May 5, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1596s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
May 5, 2026: Committee Amendment # 2026-1596s, AA, VV; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
April 22, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1596s, 05/07/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 17
March 25, 2026: Hearing: 03/31/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 01:15 pm; SC 12
March 6, 2026: Introduced 03/05/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 6
March 5, 2026: Ought to Pass: MA VV 03/05/2026 HJ 6
Feb. 26, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass 02/03/2026 (Vote 16-0; CC) HC 9 P. 13
Feb. 17, 2026: ==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 02/17/2026 01:40 pm GP 158
Feb. 11, 2026: ==RECESSED== Executive Session: 02/10/2026 11:00 am GP 158
Jan. 29, 2026: Public Hearing: 02/03/2026 01:20 pm GP 158
Dec. 1, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Election Law HJ 1 P. 9