Filing for office and witnessing affidavits

Analysis

This bill: I. Allows the secretary of state to serve as a filing official. II. Allows town clerks to witness affidavits regardless of whether they are a notary public.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as enacted. Passages chosen from the operative text.Auto-selectedComputed by this site

Sponsors

• Rep. Ross BerryR▸Chair· Election Law
• Rep. Jeanine NotterRAssistant Majority Leader
• Rep. Jordan UleryRVice Chair· Ways and Means
• Sen. Keith MurphyRDeputy President Pro Tempore
• Sen. Daniel InnisRChair, Majority Policy Conference

Also: Rep. John SellersR, Rep. Barbara ComtoisR, Rep. Mark WardenR, Rep. Linda FranzR

Public testimony

• Feb 4, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendarCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0237h17–0
  Overall

  100% yea
• Feb 20, 2025HouseVoice voteAmendment 2025-0237hadopted
• Feb 20, 2025HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0237hadopted
  Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
• Apr 17, 2025SenateCommittee reportCommittee report: Ought to Pass5–0
  Overall

  100% yea
• Apr 17, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
• May 8, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

• Jan 28, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law1:55:21–2:00:004m 39slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
• Feb 4, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law4:02:07–4:06:104m 3slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0237h — roll call; Executive Session
• Feb 20, 2025Floor debateHouse floor3:56:36–3:57:441m 8slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0237h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2025-0237h — adopted, voice vote
• Apr 1, 2025Public hearingSenate Election Law and Municipal Affairs47:35–48:401m 5slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
• Apr 17, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
• May 8, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Adopted — voice vote

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

1. Jan 8, 2025HouseIntroduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Election Law HJ 2 P. 15
2. Jan 28, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/28/2025 11:40 am LOB 306-308
3. Feb 4, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 02/04/2025 10:10 am LOB 306-308
4. Feb 4, 2025HouseCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0237h 02/04/2025 (Vote 17-0; RC) HC 12 P. 17
5. Feb 20, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0237h: AA VV 02/20/2025 HJ 6 P. 41
6. Feb 20, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0237h: MA VV 02/20/2025 HJ 6 P. 42
7. Mar 6, 2025SenIntroduced 03/06/2025 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 7
8. Apr 1, 2025SenHearing: 04/01/2025, Room 103, LOB, 10:00 am; SC 15
9. Apr 17, 2025SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass, 04/17/2025; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 17
10. Apr 17, 2025SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/17/2025; SJ 10
11. May 8, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/08/2025); SJ 13
12. May 8, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 05/08/2025 HJ 14 P. 59
13. May 29, 2025HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 05/29/2025; Chapter 47; eff. 07/28/2025

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

• Introducedversion
• As Amended by the Houseversion
• Adopted by both chambersversion
• Chaptered (final law)version
• Amendment 2025-0237hamendment
• House Committee Report · 2025-02-06report
• Senate Committee Report · 2025-04-01report
• Senate Hearing Report · 2025-04-02report

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