Revision: July 15, 2026, 12:24 p.m.
CHAPTER 293
HB 1187-FN - FINAL VERSION
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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.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:
293:1 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 RSA 655:81, III is repealed and reenacted to read as follows: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
293:2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
Approved: July 10, 2026
Effective Date: September 08, 2026