Committee Summary for House Election Law (05/27/2025)

Berry, Ross(Chairman)(R)[A+]2025	Burnham, Claudine(Clerk)(R)[A-]2025	Qualey, James(V Chairman)(R)[B+]2025
Ward, Gerald(D)[F]2025	Prudhomme-O'Brien, Katherine(R)[B+]2025	Gilmore, Gary(D)[F]2025
See, Alvin(R)[A-]2025	Grill, Jessica(D)[D-]2025	Wood, Clayton(R)[B+]2025
Bay, Luz(D)[F]2025	Wherry, Robert(R)[A-]2025	Harvey-Bolia, Juliet(R)[A-]2025
Muirhead, Russell(D)[D-]2025	Wilhelm, Matthew(D)[F]2025	Lane, Connie(D)[CT]2025
Newsom, James(D)[CT]2025	Toner, Travis(R)[B+]2025	Guzofski, James(R)[B+]2025

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
SB43 2025-1651H 00:02:29.920 - 9:01:15 AM	Public Hearing	(New Title) removing articles of clothing from the definition of electioneering and the use of electronic poll book devices.	Lang, Timothy(R)[B-]2025
SB43 2025-2304 00:09:57.640 - 9:08:43 AM	Public Hearing	(New Title) removing articles of clothing from the definition of electioneering and the use of electronic poll book devices.	Lang, Timothy(R)[B-]2025
SB43 2025-1651H 00:12:17.680 - 9:11:03 AM	Executive Session	(New Title) removing articles of clothing from the definition of electioneering and the use of electronic poll book devices.	Lang, Timothy(R)[B-]2025
SB44 00:17:57.280 - 9:16:43 AM	Executive Session	relative to hand counts of ballots in elections.	Avard, Kevin(R)[B]2025
SB45 00:19:37.360 - 9:18:23 AM	Executive Session	(New Title) clarifying the placement of advertising signs on state-owned property.	Gray, James(R)[B-]2025
SB103 00:21:57.919 - 9:20:43 AM	Executive Session	(New Title) relative to the number of polling stations that are available for certain towns and cities during a general election which includes the election for the office of President of the United States.	Murphy, Keith(R)[A]2025
SB213 2025-2461H 00:25:24.279 - 9:24:10 AM	Executive Session	(New Title) relative to electioneering by public employees and relative to absentee voting.	Gray, James(R)[B-]2025
SB215 2025-2326H 00:29:46.880 - 9:28:32 AM	Executive Session	(New Title) establishing voting procedures for electing town officers in unorganized towns or places.	McConkey, Mark(R)[B]2025
SB218 2025-2407H 00:33:09.360 - 9:31:55 AM	Executive Session	(New Title) relative to absentee ballots.	Gray, James(R)[B-]2025
SB221 2025-2463H 00:38:24.400 - 9:37:10 AM	Executive Session	(New Title) relative to the verification of voter rolls annually.	Avard, Kevin(R)[B]2025
SB222 2025-2406H 01:08:24.640 - 10:07:10 AM	Executive Session	relative to moving the state primary date.	Lang, Timothy(R)[B-]2025
SB287 2025-2414H 01:21:24.719 - 10:20:10 AM	Executive Session	requiring applicants for absentee ballots to present a copy of their photo identification with their application.	Pearl, Howard (R)[B]2025
SB43 2025-2475H 01:38:43.960 - 10:37:29 AM	Executive Session	(New Title) removing articles of clothing from the definition of electioneering and the use of electronic poll book devices.	Lang, Timothy(R)[B-]2025

SB43 2025-1651H: James Newsome, Representative from Hopkinton and Bow Information Only00:02:29.920 - 9:01:15 AM; Representative Newsome introduced amendment 2025-1651H to Senate Bill 43. The amendment modifies the bill in two ways: first, it aligns the bill more closely with current statutes and the rationale from a Supreme Court case; second, it includes a non-germane section that seeks to expand the use of poll pads for town meetings, deliberative sessions, and business sessions.
SB43 2025-1651H: Sarah Pushino, Town Moderator from Hopkinton Support00:05:12.000 - 9:03:58 AM; Sarah Pushino spoke in support of the amendment, emphasizing its importance as a housekeeping measure to allow communities using poll pads for voter check-in to utilize them in all operations. She highlighted the efficiency and time-saving benefits of poll pads, and the unexpected prohibition by the New Hampshire Secretary of State's office from using them at annual meetings. She expressed hope that the amendment would enable the use of poll pads at annual meetings starting in 2026.
SB43 2025-1651H: Sarah Burke Cohen, New Hampshire Municipal Association Information Only00:07:25.840 - 9:06:11 AM; Sarah Burke Cohen from the New Hampshire Municipal Association supported the use of poll pads at town elections but noted problems with the language in the amendment. She pointed out incorrect citations that could cause issues for towns and suggested simplified language to include town and school business and deliberative sessions. She could not support the amendment as written due to these citation errors.
SB43 2025-2304: James Newsome, Representative from Hopkinton and Bow Information Only00:09:57.640 - 9:08:43 AM; Representative Newsome introduced amendment 2025-2304, which is similar to the second paragraph of the previous amendment, seeking to authorize poll books to be used at town and school deliberative sessions and special meetings. He mentioned the need for simplified language due to incorrect section references.
SB43 2025-2304: Sarah Burke Cohen, New Hampshire Municipal Association Information Only00:11:08.640 - 9:09:54 AM; Sarah Burke Cohen reiterated her previous testimony, supporting the use of poll books but not the language of the amendment due to incorrect citations. She pointed out specific errors in RSA references and suggested changes to make the amendment more usable.
SB43 2025-1651H: Committee Information Only00:12:17.680 - 9:11:03 AM; The committee discussed amending amendment 2025-1651H. They considered changing the citation from 394 to 391 and adding provisions to include school districts. There was a suggestion to remove specific citations and use more general language to apply to town and school meetings. The committee planned to file these changes with the Office of the Secretary before breaking for a caucus.
SB44: Committee Vote00:17:57.280 - 9:16:43 AM; The committee moved to retain Senate Bill 44, relative to hand counts of ballots in elections. The motion was seconded and passed without discussion.
SB44: Committee Vote00:17:57.280 - 9:16:43 AM; The committee voted to retain Senate Bill 44 with a unanimous vote of 17 to 0. No report is due, and the decision was communicated to the assistant.
SB45: Representative Wood Vote00:19:37.360 - 9:18:23 AM; Representative Wood moved to recommend Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL) on Senate Bill 45, citing extensive discussions on signs and the lack of new information covered by the bill. The motion was seconded by Representative Gassovki and passed unanimously with a vote of 17 to 0. Representative Wood will be responsible for the report.
SB103: Representative Qualey Vote00:21:57.919 - 9:20:43 AM; Representative Qualey moved to retain Senate Bill 103, emphasizing the need for more time to address the issue properly. The motion was seconded by Representative Wood.
SB103: Representative Lane Information Only00:23:00.480 - 9:21:46 AM; Representative Lane questioned the retention of SB103, referencing a similar bill considered earlier. The discussion highlighted the complexity due to the bill's application only to presidential elections, and the need for more time to work on it.
SB103: Representative Qu Information Only00:23:55.880 - 9:22:41 AM; Representative Qu agreed with the need for more time to work on the issue, supporting the retention of SB103.
SB103: Committee Vote00:25:24.279 - 9:24:10 AM; The committee voted unanimously to retain Senate Bill 103 with a vote of 17 to 0.
SB213 2025-2461H: Representative Toner Vote00:25:24.279 - 9:24:10 AM; Representative Toner seconded the motion to pass and the amendment to Senate Bill 213. The amendment, 2025-2461H, replaces the bill with the House position on House Bill 340, expanding the definition of electioneering by public employees.
SB213 2025-2461H: Representative Lane Information Only00:26:33.520 - 9:25:19 AM; Representative Lane confirmed that the amendment incorporated HB 340 as passed by the House.
SB213 2025-2461H: Committee Vote00:28:02.799 - 9:26:48 AM; The amendment 2025-2461H to Senate Bill 213 was adopted with a vote of 10 to 7. Subsequently, the motion to pass Senate Bill 213 as amended also carried with a vote of 10 to 7.
SB215 2025-2326H: Representative Lane Vote00:29:46.880 - 9:28:32 AM; Representative Lane seconded the motion to pass Senate Bill 215. The amendment 2025-2326H was moved to codify the process for conducting elections in unorganized towns or unincorporated places, addressing concerns about broad rulemaking authority. The amendment and the motion to pass as amended were both approved unanimously with a vote of 17 to 0.
SB218 2025-2407H: Representative Harvey Bully Vote00:33:09.360 - 9:31:55 AM; Representative Harvey Bully moved to pass Senate Bill 218 with amendment 2025-2407H, which is a replace all amendment incorporating the verbiage from House Bill 217. The amendment and the motion to pass as amended carried with a vote of 10 to 7. Representative Harvey Bully will be responsible for the majority report, and Representative Lane will provide the minority report.
SB221 2025-2463H: Representative Burnham Vote00:38:24.400 - 9:37:10 AM; Representative Burnham moved to pass Senate Bill 221 with amendment 2025-2463H, which readopts the House position on annual verification of the checklist. The underlying bill was flawed without the amendment. The amendment and the motion to pass as amended carried with a vote of 10 to 7. Representative Burnham will be responsible for the majority report, and Representative Lane will provide the minority report.
SB222 2025-2406H: Representative Wor Vote01:08:24.640 - 10:07:10 AM; Representative Wor seconded the motion to pass Senate Bill 222. Representative Wilhelm moved amendment 2025-2406H to move the effective date to January 1st, 2027, aligning with the House position. The amendment failed with a vote of 10 to 8, and the underlying motion to pass carried with a vote of 10 to 8. The majority report will be handled by the chair, and Representative Lane will provide the minority report.
SB287 2025-2414H: Representative Toner Vote01:21:24.719 - 10:20:10 AM; Representative Toner seconded the motion to pass Senate Bill 287 and the amendment 2025-2414H. The amendment made several changes to the bill, including applying ID requirements to all absentee voters, allowing ID submission with the application, and removing signature verification and marking of the outer envelope. The amendment and the motion to pass as amended carried with a vote of 10 to 8. The majority report will be handled by the chair, and Representative Lane will provide the minority report.
SB43 2025-2475H: Representative Newsome Support01:38:43.960 - 10:37:29 AM; Representative Newsome moved to adopt amendment 2025-2475H to Senate Bill 43. The amendment makes minor changes to align with a Supreme Court case and simplifies language regarding the use of poll books for town and school district business. The amendment was discussed and adopted unanimously.
SB43 2025-2475H: Representative Newsome Support01:40:51.840 - 10:39:37 AM; Representative Newsome moved for Senate Bill 43 to pass as amended with amendment 2025-2475H. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously with a vote of 18 to 0. The bill was placed on the consent calendar.
SB43 2025-2475H: Representative C Information Only01:42:59.360 - 10:41:45 AM; Representative C discussed the need for a committee of conference for several bills. House Bill 154 about hand-counted ballots, House Bill 270 on electronic device preservation, and House Bill 67 on accessible voting machines are among those requiring further discussion. Representative C also mentioned that House Bill 626's committee of conference request would be withdrawn and replaced with a concur motion.