HB 1689 - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
03/26/2026 1204s
2026 SESSION
26-2769
12/08
HOUSE BILL 1689
AN ACT relative to the term of office for county officers in Belknap and Merrimack counties.
SPONSORS: Rep. Morse, Merr. 3
COMMITTEE: Municipal and County Government
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill extends the term of office for certain elected county officers in Belknap and Merrimack counties to 4 years. The bill also requires that the elections for such Merrimack county officers coincide with the presidential election every 4 years.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.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 1204s 26-2769
12/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT relative to the term of office for county officers in Belknap and Merrimack counties.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Elections; State and County Officers to be Elected; Elected for 2-Year Term; Belknap and Merrimack County Officer Terms Increased. Amend RSA 653:1, V to read as follows:
V. One sheriff, one county attorney, one county treasurer, one register of deeds, and one register of probate by the voters in each county; provided that, at the 2022 state general election, and at each subsequent state general election, any such officer in Rockingham county shall be chosen in the county by the voters for a 4-year term; and, provided that, at the 2024 state general election, and at each subsequent state general election, any such officer in Coos county shall be chosen in the county by the voters for a 4-year term; and, provided that, at the 2026 state general election, and at each subsequent state general election, any such officer in Belknap county shall be chosen in the county by the voters for a 4-year term; and, provided that, at the 2028 state general election and at each subsequent state general election, any such officer in Merrimack county shall be chosen in the county by the voters for a 4-year term;
2 The State and Its Government; County Attorneys; Election; Temporary Vacancies. Amend RSA 7:33 to read as follows:
7:33 Election; Temporary Vacancies. There shall be a county attorney for each county, who shall be a member of the New Hampshire bar, elected biennially by the voters of the county; provided that, at the 2022 state general election, and at each subsequent state general election, the county attorney for Rockingham county shall be chosen in the county by the voters for a 4-year term; and, provided that, at the 2024 state general election, and at each subsequent state general election, the county attorney for Coos county shall be chosen in the county by the voters for a 4-year term; and, provided that, at the 2026 state general election, and at each subsequent state general election, the county attorney for Belknap county shall be chosen in the county by the voters for a 4-year term; and provided that, at the 2028 state general election, and at each subsequent state general election, the county attorney for Merrimack county shall be chosen in the county by the voters for a 4-year term. If the county attorney is absent at any term of court or unable to discharge the duties of the office, the superior court, acting as a body, shall appoint a county attorney, who shall be a member of the New Hampshire bar, for the time being and allow said appointee such compensation for his or her services as set by the county delegation.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| March 17, 2026 | 2026-1204s |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 13, 2026 | House | Hearing |
| Jan. 13, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| Jan. 16, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
| March 17, 2026 | Senate | Hearing |
| Senate | Floor Vote |
April 9, 2026: House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1204s (Rep. Sweeney): MA VV 04/09/2026 HJ 10
April 9, 2026: House Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1204s (Rep. Pauer): MF RC 65-287 04/09/2026
March 23, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1204s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
March 20, 2026: Committee Amendment # 2026-1204s, AA, VV; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
March 18, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1204s, 03/26/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 11
March 11, 2026: Hearing: 03/17/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 09:15 am; SC 10
Feb. 9, 2026: Introduced 02/05/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 4
Feb. 5, 2026: Ought to Pass: MA VV 02/05/2026 HJ 3 P. 17
Jan. 27, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass 01/16/2026 (Vote 15-1; CC) HC 5 P. 14
Jan. 20, 2026: Executive Session: 01/13/2026 09:50 am GP 154
Jan. 8, 2026: Public Hearing: 01/13/2026 09:50 am GP 154
Dec. 12, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Municipal and County Government HJ 1 P. 31