Committee Summary for Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs (03/17/2026)

Gray, James(Chairman)(R)[B-]2025	Lang, Timothy(V Chairman)(R)[B-]2025	Perkins Kwoka, Rebecca(D)[F]2025
Rochefort, David(R)[B-]2025	Long, Pat(D)[F]2025

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
HB1689 00:18:25.027 - 8:17:06 AM	Public Hearing	relative to the term of office for county officers in Merrimack county.	Morse, Bryan(R)[A-]2025
HB1689 1193s 00:19:30.000 - 8:18:11 AM	Executive Session	relative to the term of office for county officers in Merrimack county.	Morse, Bryan(R)[A-]2025
HB158 1070s 00:22:00.000 - 8:20:41 AM	Executive Session	relative to public inspection of absentee ballot lists.	Hill, Gregory(R)[A-]2025
HB1118 00:24:00.000 - 8:22:41 AM	Executive Session	increasing the limit for moneys remitted to municipal treasurers.	Colby, Eleana (D)[F]2025
HB488 00:25:00.000 - 8:23:41 AM	Executive Session	(Second New Title) relative to limiting conflicts of interest and concentrations of power for municipal board and committee members.	Spilsbury, Walter(R)[A-]2025
HB348 1070s 00:27:00.000 - 8:25:41 AM	Executive Session	relative to eligibility for local assistance.	Rhodes, Jennifer(R)[B+]2025
HB1044 1190s 00:33:25.027 - 8:32:06 AM	Executive Session	relative to the filling of vacancies in the office of a county commissioner.	Turcotte, Len(R)[B]2025
HB1246 00:35:00.000 - 8:33:41 AM	Executive Session	relative to planning board members serving on other local boards.	Fracht, David(D)[D-]2025
HB1296 00:37:00.000 - 8:35:41 AM	Executive Session	relative to the conditions for, and procedures for the adoption of, the elderly tax exemption.	Kelly, Eileen(D)[F]2025
HB1468 00:41:04.572 - 8:39:45 AM	Public Hearing	relative to municipal flood resilience planning and the use of planning grants.	Vail, Suzanne(D)[CT]2025
HB1494 00:50:00.000 - 8:48:41 AM	Public Hearing	increasing the maximum amount of the optional veterans' tax credit, optional combat service tax credit, and optional surviving spouse tax credit.	Pauer, Diane(R)[A]2025
HB1031 01:02:12.215 - 9:00:53 AM	Public Hearing	enabling candidates for state office to use campaign funds to pay for security measures.	Thomas, Wendy(D)[CT]2025

HB1689: HB 1689 Sponsor Support00:18:25.027 - 8:17:06 AM; Introduced House Bill 1689 to extend terms of professional county officers such as sheriff, county attorney, treasurer, register of deeds, and register of probate from two to four years to reduce constant campaign cycles. Noted prior implementation in Coos, Rockingham, and Hillsborough counties, and proposed adding Belknap County via amendment.
HB1689 1193s: Senator Lang Vote00:19:30.000 - 8:18:11 AM; Moved amendment 1193s to add Belknap County, using same language as original bill for four-year terms starting in 2028 election to provide notice near filing deadline; original Merrimack provisions remain for 2026. Amendment passed unanimously. Motion for Ought to Pass (OTP) on bill as amended passed unanimously on consent.
HB158 1070s: Senator Roachford Vote00:22:00.000 - 8:20:41 AM; Offered amendment 1070s to allow Secretary of State to refer cases worthy of investigation to Attorney General for review, including multiple ballots to single address unless explained (e.g., boarding house); further amendment to replace 'distribution' with 'forwarded'. Amendment as amended passed unanimously. OTP on bill as amended passed unanimously on consent.
HB1118: Committee Chair Vote00:24:00.000 - 8:22:41 AM; Motion for Ought to Pass (OTP) seconded and passed unanimously on consent. No discussion.
HB488: Senator Lang Vote00:25:00.000 - 8:23:41 AM; Moved Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL) citing RSA 669:7 allows local governments to address incompatible offices, no need for state-level fix for issues in one or two communities. Motion passed unanimously on consent.
HB348 1070s: Committee Member Vote00:27:00.000 - 8:25:41 AM; Motion for OTP with amendment 1070s, developed collaboratively with sponsor Rep. Rhodes; amendment improves bill addressing concerns from similar HHS 441, allows attestation for residence, including from EMS providers. Discussion noted lingering concern for involuntarily hospitalized losing housing documentation, but attestation and hospital records can address; welfare directors compassionate. Amendment passed. OTP on bill as amended passed unanimously.
HB348 1070s: Senator Information Only00:28:00.000 - 8:26:41 AM; Commented that amendment goes further than HHS discussion but parties involved are satisfied; suggested adding sentence for hospitalized residence proof if needed.
HB1044 1190s: Senator Lang Vote00:33:25.027 - 8:32:06 AM; Moved amendment 1190s to retain at-large voting for counties electing commissioners at large (residents in districts), set minimum three representatives before whole county delegation votes, addresses concerns on representation and city ward splitting. Amendment passed unanimously. OTP on bill as amended passed unanimously on consent.
HB1246: Senator Lang Vote00:35:00.000 - 8:33:41 AM; Moved Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL) as inverse of prior year's bill preventing zoning board members from voting on planning board decisions if dual members; this covers the opposite to ensure no conflicts. Motion passed unanimously on consent.
HB1296: Senator Lang Vote00:37:00.000 - 8:35:41 AM; Moved Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL) as bill forces statewide increase in tax credit floor (veterans, indigent, elderly) without local voter input; towns can already set higher limits, examples include recent local increases in town elections like Littleton doubling elderly credit from $52,000 to $105,000 for ages 75-80; unintended higher taxes on non-eligible. Motion passed unanimously on consent.
HB1296: Senator Information Only00:38:00.000 - 8:36:41 AM; Emphasized no ceiling on credits, communities already increasing voluntarily; forcing floor removes local engagement.
HB1296: Committee Member Information Only00:39:00.000 - 8:37:41 AM; Added that municipalities not prohibited from raising credits locally, citing Littleton example.
HB1468: Representative Suzanne Vail, Nashua Ward 3 Support00:41:04.572 - 8:39:45 AM; Introduced HB 1468 to allow municipalities to include flood resilience planning in master plans under RSA 674 to address repeated severe flooding risks to infrastructure and safety. Cited examples like Acworth experiencing two storms washing out 31-32 roads in under two years, undoing repairs. Bill adds optional section for long-term flood mitigation to access grants requiring forward planning; no appropriation needed, local option only. Proposed replace-all amendment to avoid altering existing duties, simply adding optional authority; House Municipal Committee passed 100% in favor.
HB1468: Committee Chair Information Only00:45:00.000 - 8:43:41 AM; Asked if sponsor supports proposed amendment; sponsor noted House passed bill as introduced without amendment but reviewed new one and found it non-concerning if it meets intent, as it's optional ('may choose'); however, due to amendment arriving today, not advancing today.
HB1494: Representative Diane Power, Brookline, Mason, Greenville Support00:50:00.000 - 8:48:41 AM; Introduced HB 1494 to adjust statutory maximums for optional veterans, combat service, and surviving spouse property tax credits for inflation using CPIU Northeast; last increases in 2018 and 2003 respectively. Municipalities must vote locally to adopt higher maximums, providing modest relief. Explained difference from floor-setting bills; these are caps, and other credits have been adjusted recently, these are last remaining needing update; communities like hers recently increased one credit.
HB1494: Committee Chair Information Only00:52:00.000 - 8:50:41 AM; Questioned repeated annual bills on credits, confusion between types (combat, all veterans, disabled); suggested removing maximums to let towns set any amount, as current max not always reached and $50 may not be worth paperwork.
HB1494: Kevin Grady, Hooksett, Air Force Veteran Support00:56:04.572 - 8:54:45 AM; 25-year Air Force veteran and 28-year Hooksett resident supports HB 1494 as it aligns with governor's vision to attract veterans to NH post-service for jobs and families. Tax credits serve as incentive on recruitment materials; optional for towns, adds modest work but worthwhile.
HB1494: Committee Chair Information Only00:57:00.000 - 8:55:41 AM; Reiterated question on removing maximums; Grady noted committee might support bill setting mandatory $50 minimum with towns free to set higher as affordable.
HB1031: Wendy Thomas, Merrimack Support01:02:12.215 - 9:00:53 AM; Wendy Thomas introduced HB 1031, which allows candidates for state office to use campaign funds for security measures, mirroring federal language. She explained that the original bill included a $3,000 cap per campaign per term to prevent abuse, but the House removed it due to concerns for higher-security races like governor or Senate. She suggested reinstating a cap or limiting to House races. Thomas shared personal experiences of being swatted and receiving death threats, justifying expenses like car and home cameras. During Q&A, she clarified that security items like cameras with subscriptions could be covered during campaigns and terms. She noted the bill originated from discussions at a women in government conference following threats to legislators. On firearms and body armor, she said they are not explicitly listed but could fall under 'security devices' at the Secretary of State's discretion, though a cap helps prevent misuse.
HB1031: Connie Lane, Concord Ward 2, Merrimack District 16 Support01:12:00.000 - 9:10:41 AM; Connie Lane, ranking member of the election law committee, supported HB 1031 due to rising violence against politicians, citing a 40% increase in incidents and examples like threats in New Hampshire against representatives over income tax proposals, antisemitic remarks, and deportation threats. She emphasized the need for campaign funds to cover personal security, as current rules exclude personal use. Lane confirmed the bill passed unanimously on consent in the House. She clarified that guns are included for personal safety, not collections, based on committee interpretation. On the cap, she noted Republicans opposed it for larger races but supported getting the bill passed first, open to adding a cap or tiering by office later. She shared personal safety measures like removing her address and license plate due to family concerns.