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HB 554 · 2025 · House · Municipal and County Government Committee

Rules for political signs on state property

AI-generated

(Second New Title) clarifying the placement of advertising signs on state-owned property.

Clarifies the conditions under which political advertising signs may be placed on municipal property.AI-generated

Status

Recommended for passage but never voted; died at adjournment · May 1, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill clarifies the conditions under which political advertising may be placed on municipal property.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“No advertising, including but not limited to political advertising, shall be placed on or affixed to any private property without the owner's consent.”
RSA 664:17
“No advertising, including but not limited to political advertising, shall be placed on or affixed to any state-owned public property.”
RSA 664:17
“This paragraph shall not apply to advertising that is placed on or affixed to state-owned rights-of-way with the consent of the owner of the land over which the right-of-way passes so long as the advertising does not obstruct the safe flow of traffic or violate any other applicable law.”
RSA 664:17
“All political advertising shall be removed by the candidate no later than the second Friday following the election unless the election is a primary and the advertising concerns a candidate who is a winner in the primary.”
RSA 664:17

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Louise AndrusRPrime
  • Rep. Katelyn KuttabRClerk· Judiciary
  • Rep. Kimberly RiceRVice Chair· Children and Family Law
  • Rep. Heath HowardDDeputy Ranking Member· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Sen. Daniel InnisRChair, Majority Policy Conference
  • Sen. Howard PearlRChair· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Sen. Ruth WardRDeputy Majority Leader

Also: Rep. Kristine PerezR, Rep. Alvin SeeR, Rep. John SellersR, Rep. Len TurcotteR

Public testimony

19 signed in online · 4 wrote testimony

21% support79% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Ideally this law should also clarify when First Amendment rights would supersede this decision”
— Roy Schweiker, Concordsupports
“This bill violates the New Hampshire Constitution, specifically Part First Article 30. [Freedom of Speech.], which states "The freedom of deliberation, speech, and debate, in either House of the Legislature, is so essential to the rights of the people, that it cannot be the foundation of any action, complaint, or prosecution, in any other Court or place whatsoever."…”
— James Gardner, Keeneopposes
“Any municipal building should not be able to post anything showing favoritism toward any party or candidate. These types of displays should remain in a neutral public forum.”
— Sandra F Sterling, Northfieldopposes

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

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 18, 2025Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government11:46–12:551m 9slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 3, 2025Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government5:05:05–5:08:223m 17slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0570h (NT); Executive Session
  • Mar 13, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0570h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2025-0570h (NT) — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 1, 2025Public hearingSenate Election Law and Municipal Affairs1:02:41–1:03:541m 13slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 1, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1615s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-1615s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2025-1615s — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 12, 2025Floor debateHouse floor2:17:08–2:18:521m 44slocated in the stream transcriptHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-1615s (Rep. Pauer) — adopted, voice vote

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Municipal and County Government HJ 3 P. 15
  2. Feb 18, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/18/2025 09:00 am LOB 201
  3. Mar 3, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/03/2025 01:00 pm LOB 301-303
  4. Mar 3, 2025House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0570h (NT) 03/03/2025 (Vote 18-0; CC)
  5. Mar 13, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0570h (NT): AA VV 03/13/2025 HJ 8 P. 15
  6. Mar 13, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0570h: MA VV 03/13/2025 HJ 8 P. 15
  7. Mar 13, 2025SenIntroduced 03/13/2025 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 8
  8. Apr 1, 2025SenHearing: 04/01/2025, Room 103, LOB, 10:15 am; SC 15
  9. May 1, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1615s, 05/01/2025; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 19
  10. May 1, 2025SenCommittee Amendment # 2025-1615s, AA, VV; 05/01/2025; SJ 11
  11. May 1, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-1615s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/01/2025; SJ 11
  12. Jun 12, 2025HouseHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-1615s (Rep. Pauer): MA VV 06/12/2025 HJ 17 P. 14

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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