HB 158 - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
03/26/2026 1214s
2025 SESSION
25-0680
08/09
HOUSE BILL 158
SPONSORS: Rep. Hill, Merr. 2; Rep. Bernardy, Rock. 36; Rep. Sweeney, Rock. 25; Rep. Verville, Rock. 2; Rep. Berry, Hills. 44; Rep. S. Boyd, Merr. 10; Rep. T. Walsh, Merr. 10; Rep. Sheehan, Hills. 43; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17; Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Sen. McConkey, Dist 3
COMMITTEE: Election Law
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill requires the secretary of state to review absentee ballot data biennially, forward certain requests to the election law unit for review, and make a report to the general court.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03/26/2026 1214s 25-0680
08/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Paragraph; Addresses Receiving Multiple Absentee Ballots. Amend RSA 657:15 by inserting after paragraph I the following new paragraph:
I-a. The secretary of state shall review absentee ballot data after each general election to identify absentee ballot requests that should be forwarded to the department of justice, election law unit for an investigative review. This review shall include requests by multiple voters that are sent to a common address. The secretary shall provide the committees of jurisdiction a report of the number and category of requests forwarded for investigative review.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| March 17, 2026 | 2026-1214s |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 4, 2025 | House | Hearing |
| Feb. 11, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
| Feb. 18, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
| March 4, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
| March 11, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
| Sept. 16, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
| Sept. 16, 2025 | House | Floor Vote |
| Feb. 17, 2026 | Senate | Hearing |
| Senate | Floor Vote |
March 20, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1214s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
March 20, 2026: Committee Amendment # 2026-1214s, AA, VV; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
March 18, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1214s, 03/26/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 11
Feb. 11, 2026: Hearing: 02/17/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 09:15 am; SC 6
Jan. 30, 2026: Introduced 01/29/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 3
Jan. 7, 2026: Ought to Pass: MA DV 179-157 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 157
Nov. 14, 2025: Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
Nov. 14, 2025: Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass 09/16/2025 (Vote 10-7; RC) HC 51 P. 30
Aug. 25, 2025: Executive Session: 09/16/2025 10:15 am GP 158
March 12, 2025: Retained in Committee
March 6, 2025: Executive Session: 03/11/2025 09:00 am LOB 306-308
Feb. 27, 2025: ==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 03/04/2025 01:00 pm LOB 306-308
Feb. 12, 2025: ==RECESSED== Executive Session: 02/18/2025 10:10 am LOB 306-308
Feb. 7, 2025: ==RECESSED== Executive Session: 02/11/2025 10:10 am LOB 306-308
Jan. 29, 2025: Public Hearing: 02/04/2025 11:00 am LOB 306-308
Jan. 6, 2025: Introduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Election Law HJ 2 P. 8