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HB 52 · 2025 · House · Executive Departments and Administration Committee

Legal holiday status for primaries

AI-generated

relative to legal holidays.

Clarifies the legal effect of designating a day a legal holiday and designates the state primary day and the quadrennial presidential primary day as legal holidays.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 13, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill clarifies the effect of designating a day a legal holiday and makes the days on which the state primary preceding a biennial election and the quadrennial presidential primary are held legal holidays.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as introduced. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“Civil Rights Day; the third Monday in February, known as Washington's Birthday; the last Monday in May, known as Memorial Day or, on a date to coincide with the federal observance if it is held on a different day;”
RSA 288:1
“Any state office, city, town, school district, and community college or university which is supported by the state, shall not be open for regular purposes on a legal holiday, as established in RSA 288:1.”
RSA 288:1
“This section shall not apply to employees of such governmental units that, if so deemed by such governmental units, are necessary to carry out essential governmental services, including the primary and general elections.”
RSA 288:1
“Nothing in this section shall prevent the designation of an alternative holiday or leave schedule pursuant to statute or the terms of a collective bargaining agreement.”
RSA 288:1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Ellen ReadDPrimeDeputy Ranking Member· Housing

Public testimony

96 signed in online · 37 wrote testimony

97% support3% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Long overdue that Election Day is a holiday to ensure everyone can vote.”
— Marjorie Boyer, Merrimacksupports
“We need to be able to exercise our right to vote and not have challenges put in our way.”
— Danielle Doughty, Straffordsupports
“All citizens should have the access to healthcare that INCLUDES vaccines. This will lower the vaccine rate by making it less accessible to the lower class population and therefore will increase likelihood of the spread of extremely dangerous illnesses.”
— Devon Rabtor, Pembrokesupports
“I strongly oppose this Bill. This increases the cost to a business, and the polls are already open long enough for everyone to vote. Instead of burdening businesses, put in place early voting; for 3 weekends prior to the date of the elections the Bill has listed.”
— Gordon Springate, Wiltonopposes

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

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Feb 12, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendarCommittee report: Ought to Pass9–7
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Mar 13, 2025HouseDivisionOught to PassFailed166–205
    Overall
    45% yea
  • Mar 13, 2025HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 12, 2025Public hearingHouse Executive Departments and Administration1:38:42–1:40:131m 31slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass — roll call; Public Hearing; Executive Session
  • Mar 13, 2025Floor debateHouse floor5:12:38–5:16:434m 5slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass — failed, division 166-205; Inexpedient to Legislate — 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 Executive Departments and Administration HJ 2 P. 3
  2. Feb 12, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/12/2025 11:00 am LOB 306-308
  3. Feb 12, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 02/12/2025 11:00 am LOB 306-308
  4. Feb 12, 2025HouseMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass 02/12/2025 (Vote 9-7; RC)
  5. Mar 3, 2025HouseMinority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Mar 13, 2025HouseOught to Pass: MF DV 166-205 03/13/2025 HJ 8 P. 73
  7. Mar 13, 2025HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/13/2025 HJ 8 P. 73

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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