HB 1541-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2026 SESSION
26-2744
08/06
HOUSE BILL 1541-FN
SPONSORS: Rep. Porcelli, Rock. 19; Rep. Bernardy, Rock. 36; Rep. Burnham, Straf. 2; Rep. Kuttab, Rock. 17; Rep. Nelson, Rock. 13; Rep. See, Merr. 26; Rep. Wherry, Hills. 13; Rep. Wood, Merr. 13; Rep. Tenczar, Hills. 1; Rep. McGrath, Rock. 40; Sen. Innis, Dist 7; Sen. McGough, Dist 11
COMMITTEE: Election Law
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires the secretary of state to provide all voting precincts with secure containers for storing ballots.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-2744
08/06
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 Secretary of State to Prepare Containers, Sealers. Amend RSA 659:97 to read as follows:
659:97 Secretary of State to Prepare Containers, Sealers. The secretary of state shall, before any state and federal election, prepare and distribute to each town and ward clerk secure, durable, reusable, transportable, stackable and marked containers to be used for preserving ballots with locks, tamper-evident [and] sealers [to seal each such container] and registration or serial numbers for each marked containers. [He] The secretary of state shall prepare special durable and easily transportable containers capable of being secured and with tamper-evident sealers to be used for preserving any special and separate ballots for questions to voters. The secretary of state shall prescribe the size and form of such containers, locks and tamper-evident sealers and shall prescribe the form of any endorsement blank printed upon the sealers, provided that the blank is in substance consistent with the provisions of RSA 659:95. The secretary of state shall implement the secure container replacement program using available funding pursuant to the Help America Vote Act of 2002, Public Law 107-252, with measurable progress reported each year. The secretary of state shall prepare this annual progress report and will include the number of secure containers replaced, locations, and planned container replacement for the following year.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
26-2744
12/3/25
HB 1541-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
FISCAL IMPACT: This bill does not provide funding, nor does it authorize new positions.
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Estimated State Impact | ||||||
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Revenue Fund(s) | None | |||||
Expenditures* | $0 | Indeterminable Increase | ||||
Funding Source(s) | Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Funds/General Fund | |||||
Appropriations* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | None | |||||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | ||||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill requires the Secretary of State to provide all voting precincts with secure, durable, reusable, and tamper-evident containers for storing ballots. These containers must be lockable, stackable, transportable, and individually numbered. Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Funds shall be used for implementation of the secure container replacement program. Additionally, the Secretary of State shall provide an annual progress report to include the number of secure containers replaced, locations, and planned container replacement for the following year.
The Department of State indicates the bill would necessitate the purchase and distribution of these containers and related materials before each election. The containers would need to accommodate various ballot sizes and quantities, requiring custom manufacturing. The Secretary of State anticipates needing enough containers for five elections initially, after which only replacements or additional units would be necessary. The fiscal impact is indeterminable due to unknown costs for manufacturing, shipping, and potential funding limitations. There are no funds currently appropriated for this initiative, and the Secretary of State would need to seek clarification from the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) on whether Help America Vote Act (HAVA) funds can be used for these purchases.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of State
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 3, 2026 | House | Hearing |
Jan. 29, 2026: Public Hearing: 02/03/2026 03:20 pm GP 158
Dec. 10, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Election Law