Revision: March 4, 2026, 4:53 p.m.
Rep. Berry, Hills. 44
March 2, 2026
2026-0972h
12/09
Amendment to HB 686-FN
Amend the title of the bill by replacing it with the following:
AN ACT prohibiting certain public entities from conducting or sponsoring political surveys, polls, or questionnaires in their official capacities.
Amend the bill by replacing all after the enacting clause with the following:
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 RSA 659:44-a is repealed and reenacted to read as follows: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.
2026-0972h
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.