HB 1541-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
04/09/2026 1313s
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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
04/09/2026 1313s 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 prepare an 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 January 1, 2027.
26-2744
04/24/2026
HB 1541-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE (AMENDMENT #2026-1313s)
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Office of Legislative Budget Assistant states this bill has no additional fiscal impact on state, county and local expenditures or revenue as the Secretary of State's current operating budget can absorb the estimated expenditures related to this bill.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of State
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| March 31, 2026 | 2026-1313s |
| 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 |
| April 9, 2026 | Senate | Floor Vote |
May 6, 2026: Speaker Appoints: Reps. Berry, Qualey, Lane, Muirhead 04/23/2026 HJ 11
May 6, 2026: House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1313s and Requests CofC (Rep. Berry): MA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11
April 3, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1313s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/09/2026; SJ 8
April 3, 2026: Committee Amendment # 2026-1313s, AA, VV; 04/09/2026; SJ 8
April 1, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1313s, 04/09/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 13
March 25, 2026: Hearing: 03/31/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 09:00 am; 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 17-0; 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 03:20 pm GP 158
Dec. 10, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Election Law HJ 1 P. 25