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HB 228 · 2025 · House · Municipal and County Government Committee

Primary petitioner for town meeting articles

AI-generated

relative to petitioned articles at annual or special town meetings.

Authorizes petitioned warrant article applications to identify a primary petitioner who must be given at least 10 minutes to introduce the article at town or school district meetings.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · July 22, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill authorizes written applications for a petitioned article at an annual or special town or school board meeting to identify a primary petitioner who shall be granted the same amount of time to introduce a petitioned article as is granted to the governing body or budget committee to introduce their warrant articles.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Diane PauerRPrimeChair· Municipal and County Government
  • Rep. Anita BurroughsDRanking Member· Commerce and Consumer Affairs
  • Rep. Juliet Harvey-BoliaRDeputy Majority Floor Leader
  • Rep. Wayne MacDonaldRChair· Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs
  • Rep. Daniel VeilleuxDDeputy Ranking Member· Transportation
  • Rep. James CreightonRChair· Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services
  • Sen. Kevin AvardRDeputy Majority Whip

Also: Rep. Riché ColcombeR, Rep. John SellersR, Sen. Tim McGoughR

Public testimony

21 signed in online · 2 wrote testimony

86% support14% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Granite State Taxpayers supports efforts and legislation to promote awareness of the financial impact on taxpayers of spending and taxing options, to institute and defend tax cap legislation, and promote better public awareness of the impacts of proposed projects and ballot choices.…”
— Ray Chadwick, BEDFORDsupports
“Even foolish ideas deserve to be heard so voters can make decisions from a position of knowledge.”
— Liz Tentarelli, Manchestersupports

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings

  • 2025-02-279:00 amHouse Municipal and County GovernmentLOB 301-303Public hearing
  • 2025-03-109:30 amHouse Municipal and County GovernmentLOB 301-303Public hearing
  • 2025-05-139:15 amSenate Election Law and Municipal AffairsLOB 103Public hearing

Legislative history

  1. Jan 8, 2025HouseIntroduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Municipal and County Government HJ 2 P. 11
  2. Feb 27, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/27/2025 02:30 pm LOB 301-303
  3. Mar 10, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/10/2025 09:30 am LOB 301-303
  4. Mar 10, 2025House: Ought to Pass 03/10/2025 (Vote 18-0; CC) HC 17 P. 23
  5. Mar 26, 2025HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 43
  6. Mar 27, 2025SenIntroduced 03/27/2025 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 10
  7. May 13, 2025SenHearing: 05/13/2025, Room 103, LOB, 09:15 am; SC 21
  8. May 22, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2165s, 05/22/2025; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 22
  9. May 22, 2025SenCommittee Amendment # 2025-2165s, AA, VV; 05/22/2025; SJ 14
  10. May 22, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-2165s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/22/2025; SJ 14
  11. Jun 12, 2025HouseHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-2165s (Rep. Pauer): MA VV 06/12/2025 HJ 17 P. 14
  12. Jun 26, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/26/2025); SJ 18
  13. Jun 26, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 59
  14. Jul 15, 2025HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 07/15/2025; Chapter 173; eff. 09/13/2025 HJ 18

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.