HB 686-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
11Mar2026... 0972h
2025 SESSION
25-0502
07/08
HOUSE BILL 686-FN
SPONSORS: Rep. Potenza, Straf. 19; Rep. Ankarberg, Straf. 7; Rep. Berry, Hills. 44; Rep. Burnham, Straf. 2; Rep. DeRoy, Straf. 3; Rep. Kuttab, Rock. 17; Rep. Turcotte, Straf. 4; Rep. Wherry, Hills. 13
COMMITTEE: Election Law
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill prohibits certain public entities from conducting or sponsoring political surveys, polls, or questionnaires in their official capacities. This bill also exempts from such prohibition any surveys, polls, or questionnaires conducted by institutions of higher education.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
11Mar2026... 0972h 25-0502
07/08
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 Electioneering by Public Employees. RSA 659:44-a is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:
659:44-a Electioneering by Public Employees.
I. No public employee, as defined in RSA 273-A:1, IX, shall electioneer while in the performance of his or her official duties.
II. No public employee shall use government property or equipment, including, but not limited to, telephones, facsimile machines, vehicles, and computers, for electioneering.
III. For the purposes of this section, "electioneer" means to act in any way specifically designed to influence the vote of a voter on any question or office.
IV. No public body or public employee while acting in an official capacity, shall conduct or sponsor any survey, poll, or questionnaire concerning candidates, political parties, ballot measures, or policies reasonably anticipated to be submitted to voters. For the purposes of this paragraph, "public employees" means the persons described in RSA 273-A:1, IX(b), (c), and (d). This paragraph shall not apply to bona fide academic research conducted independently by an institution of higher education.
V. Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
25-0502
03/13/2026
HB 686-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT #2026-0972h)
FISCAL IMPACT:
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Estimated State Impact | ||||||
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Revenue Fund | None | |||||
Expenditures* | Indeterminable | |||||
Funding Source | General Fund | |||||
Appropriations* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source | None | |||||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | ||||||
| ||||||
Estimated Political Subdivision Impact | ||||||
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 | ||
County Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
County Expenditures | Indeterminable | |||||
Local Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Local Expenditures | Indeterminable | |||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill adds, deletes, or modifies a criminal penalty, or changes statute to which there is a penalty for violation. Therefore, this bill may have an impact on the judicial and correctional systems, which could affect prosecution, incarceration, probation, and parole costs, for the state, as well as county and local governments. A summary of such costs can be found at: https://gencourt.state.nh.us/lba/Budget/Fiscal_Notes/JudicialCorrectionalCosts.pdf
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Judicial Branch, Judicial Council, Department of Justice, Department of Corrections, New Hampshire Association of Counties, and New Hampshire Municipal Association
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Nov. 18, 2025 | 2025-2935h |
| March 4, 2026 | 2026-0972h |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 4, 2025 | House | Hearing |
| Feb. 11, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
| March 18, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
| Sept. 16, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
| Sept. 16, 2025 | House | Hearing |
| Sept. 16, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
| Sept. 16, 2025 | House | Floor Vote |
| March 3, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
| March 31, 2026 | Senate | Hearing |
March 25, 2026: Hearing: 03/31/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 01:45 pm; SC 12
March 17, 2026: Introduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 7
March 11, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-0972h: MA DV 178-152 03/11/2026 HJ 7
March 11, 2026: Amendment # 2026-0972h: AA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7
March 4, 2026: Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
March 4, 2026: Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0972h 03/03/2026 (Vote 9-8; RC) HC 10 P. 40
Jan. 7, 2026: Recommit (Rep. Berry): MA VV 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 163
Nov. 18, 2025: Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
Nov. 18, 2025: Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2935h (NT) 09/16/2025 (Vote 10-7; RC) HC 51 P. 31
Aug. 25, 2025: Executive Session: 09/16/2025 10:15 am GP 158
Sept. 11, 2025: Public Hearing on non-germane Amendment # 2025-2935h: 09/16/2025 10:00 am GP 158
Aug. 25, 2025: Executive Session: 09/16/2025 10:00 am GP 158
March 18, 2025: Retained in Committee
March 17, 2025: Subcommittee Work Session: 03/18/2025 09:00 am LOB 307
March 12, 2025: Executive Session: 03/18/2025 10:00 am LOB 306-308
March 12, 2025: Subcommittee Work Session: 03/14/2025 09:00 am LOB 306-308
March 4, 2025: Subcommittee Work Session: 03/07/2025 01:00 pm LOB 306-308
Feb. 20, 2025: Subcommittee Work Session: 02/21/2025 09:30 am LOB 302-304
Feb. 7, 2025: Subcommittee Work Session: 02/14/2025 09:30 am LOB 306-308
Feb. 7, 2025: Executive Session: 02/11/2025 10:10 am LOB 306-308
Jan. 29, 2025: Public Hearing: 02/04/2025 02:30 pm LOB 306-308
Jan. 21, 2025: Introduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Election Law HJ 3 P. 23