Revision: Feb. 25, 2026, 2:20 p.m.
Rep. Pauer, Hills. 36
Rep. Wherry, Hills. 13
February 12, 2026
2026-0694h
07/05
Amendment to HB 1526
Amend the introductory paragraph of RSA 32:14, III as inserted by section 1 of the bill by replacing it with the following:
III. Voting shall be by official ballot unless the town has not adopted the official ballot, in which case the clerk shall cause the same question to be printed upon special ballots, which shall be used to determine the vote of the town at the annual meeting, and ballots shall be accepted by the moderator for a period of not less than one hour following the completion of discussion on the question.
Amend RSA 32:14, III as inserted by section 1 of the bill by inserting after subparagraph (c) the following new subparagraph:
(d) For a town or district that uses an official ballot form of meeting under RSA 40:13 or under a charter adopted pursuant to RSA 49-D, if budget committee members-at-large are to be elected with initial members-at-large elected to staggered terms at the next annual meeting pursuant to RSA 32:15, III, the wording of the question shall be as follows: “To assist voters in the prudent appropriation of public funds, shall we adopt the provisions of RSA 32:14 to establish a budget committee consisting of (number) members-at-large who are elected, with initial members elected at the next annual meeting?”
Amend RSA 32:15, III as inserted by section 3 of the bill by replacing it with the following:
III. If a town or district uses an official ballot form of meeting under RSA 40:13 or under a charter adopted pursuant to RSA 49-D, and the meeting decides members-at-large are to be elected, the meeting shall either elect the initial members-at-large for staggered terms as described in paragraph II at the next annual meeting, or shall authorize the moderator to appoint members-at-large to serve a one-year term until the next annual meeting, as provided in RSA 669:17. Otherwise, if the meeting decides members-at-large are to be elected, the meeting shall either elect the initial members for one-year terms by means other than by official ballot, or shall authorize the moderator to appoint members to serve until the next annual meeting, as provided in RSA 669:17. Elections for staggered terms, as described in paragraph II, shall not begin until that next annual meeting, and shall be by official ballot if the municipality has adopted the official ballot system, as set forth in RSA 669 or RSA 671. A budget committee shall be deemed duly constituted and able to conduct business once a quorum of its elected or appointed members-at-large have been sworn into office.