Revision: May 13, 2026, 4:17 p.m.
Rep. Pauer, Hills. 36
Rep. Kofalt, Hills. 32
Rep. Osborne, Rock. 2
Rep. Sweeney, Rock. 25
Rep. Labrie, Hills. 2
Rep. Qualey, Ches. 18
Rep. R. Brown, Carr. 8
May 13, 2026
2026-1967h
07/09
Floor Amendment to SB 557-FN
Amend the title of the bill by replacing it with the following:
AN ACT making synthetic and semisynthetic kratom illegal to prepare, distribute, manufacture, sell, possess, or advertise, with exceptions made for scientific research, and relative to the official ballot referendum form of town meetings.
Amend the bill by replacing all after section 2 with the following:
3 Government of Town Meeting; Optional Form of Meeting-Official Ballot Referenda; Method of Adopting Official Ballot Referendum Form of Meeting. Amend RSA 40:14, III to read as follows:
III. The local political subdivision shall place the question on the warrant of the annual meeting under the procedures set out in RSA 39:3 or RSA 197:6. The question shall be placed first on the warrant. Voting on the question shall be by ballot, but the question shall not be placed on the official ballot used to elect officers. Polls shall remain open and ballots shall be accepted by the moderator for a period of not less than one hour following the completion of discussion on the question.
4 Municipal Finance Act; Procedure for Authorizing Bonds or Notes in Excess of $100,000. Amend RSA 33:8-a, II to read as follows:
II. All articles appearing in the warrant which propose a bond or note issue exceeding $100,000 shall appear in consecutive numerical order and shall be acted upon prior to other business except the election of officers, action on the adoption, revision, or amendment of a municipal charter, adoption of the official ballot referendum form of town meeting, and zoning matters or as otherwise determined by the voters at the meeting. Polls shall remain open and ballots shall be accepted by the moderator on each such article, for a period of not less than one hour following the completion of discussion on each respective article. A separate ballot box shall be provided for each bond article to be voted upon pursuant to this section.
I. Sections 1 and 2 of this act shall take effect upon its passage.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect July 1, 2026.
2026-1967h
AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill:
I. Makes synthetic and semisynthetic kratom illegal to prepare, distribute, manufacture, sell, possess, or advertise, with exceptions made for scientific research.
II. Requires that questions proposing to adopt an official ballot referendum form of meeting be placed first on annual meeting warrants.