HB 1381 - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
04/16/2026 1325s
2026 SESSION
26-3164
08/09
HOUSE BILL 1381
AN ACT extending the time of the party filing period.
SPONSORS: Rep. Wilhelm, Hills. 21; Rep. Berry, Hills. 44
COMMITTEE: Election Law
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ANALYSIS
This bill allows political organizations to file on behalf of candidates for 10 days following the deadline for filing for an 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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
04/16/2026 1325s 26-3164
08/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT extending the time of the party filing period.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Candidate Filing; No Declaration Filed. Amend RSA 655:32, I to read as follows:
I. In case no declaration shall be filed by a candidate for any nomination to be voted for at a primary, the nomination may be made by the appropriate party committee as provided in this section. The chairperson of the appropriate party committee shall notify the secretary of state in writing of a person it designates to fill the vacancy. The person so designated may accept the nomination by[, on or before the Wednesday following the expiration of the period for filing declarations of candidacy as provided in RSA 655:14,] filing with the secretary of state a declaration of candidacy as provided in RSA 655:17 within 10 business days following the close of the candidate filing period established by RSA 655:14. Any candidate accepting a nomination under this paragraph who has already filed for an incompatible office as defined in RSA 655:10 shall withdraw the prior filing. Any vacancy created by the withdrawal of a filing may be filled pursuant to this section. If the candidate is designated for the office of governor, councilor, state senator, or state representative, he or she shall also file on or before the Wednesday following the period for filing declarations of candidacy the appropriate affidavit as provided in RSA 655:29. Any candidate so designated by a party committee who has not filed all the forms required by this section within the required period of time shall not have his or her name printed on the state primary election ballot for that office.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| April 2, 2026 | 2026-1325s |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 3, 2026 | House | Hearing |
| Feb. 10, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| Feb. 10, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
| March 31, 2026 | Senate | Hearing |
| Senate | Floor Vote |
May 6, 2026: Speaker Appoints: Reps. Berry, Qualey, Lane, Wilhelm 04/23/2026 HJ 11
May 6, 2026: House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1325s (Rep. Berry): MA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11
April 10, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1325s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/16/2026; SJ 9
April 10, 2026: Committee Amendment # 2026-1325s, AA, VV; 04/16/2026; SJ 9
April 3, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1325s, 04/16/2026; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 14
March 25, 2026: Hearing: 03/31/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 02:00 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. 24, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass 02/10/2026 (Vote 14-0; CC) HC 9 P. 14
Feb. 11, 2026: Executive Session: 02/10/2026 11:00 am GP 158
Jan. 29, 2026: Public Hearing: 02/03/2026 11:20 am GP 158
Dec. 4, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Election Law