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HB 562 · 2025 · House · Municipal and County Government Committee

Runner-up preference for board vacancies

AI-generated

relative to the filling of vacant positions on elected municipal boards and school boards.

Requires vacancies on elected municipal and school boards to be offered first to the runner-up from a recent election when the appointing authority selects a candidate who previously ran for that office.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 requires vacancies on elected municipal boards and school boards to be first offered to the runner up in the most recent prior election if the appointing authority chooses to fill the vacancy with an applicant who ran in any of the least 3 elections for the office.

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

“The school board shall fill vacancies occurring on the board, and in other district offices, except that of moderator, until the next annual meeting of the district.”
RSA 197:26
“Vacancies in the board of supervisors shall be filled within 45 days by appointment made by the remaining supervisors.”
RSA 669:64
“If the board chooses to fill a vacancy with an applicant who ran in any of the last 3 elections for the office they must first extend an offer to the runner up in the most recent prior election.”
RSA 197:26
“In case of vacancy of the entire membership of the board, or the remaining members are unable to agree upon an appointment, the selectmen, upon application of one or more voters in the district, shall fill the vacancies so existing until the next annual meeting of the district.”
RSA 197:26

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Joe AlexanderRPrimeChair· Housing
  • Rep. Claudine BurnhamRDeputy Majority Whip
  • Rep. Ross BerryRChair· Election Law
  • Rep. Lisa MazurRVice Chair· Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs
  • Sen. Keith MurphyRDeputy President Pro Tempore

Also: Rep. Sheila SeidelR

Public testimony

185 signed in online · 27 wrote testimony

2% support98% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“A "runner up" may have only received one or a few votes, perhaps only themselves and a family member or friend. That does not mean the voters wanted them or that they are well qualified.”
— Nancy Ladd, Warneropposes
“If there is a vacant position- there should be an additional election not given to runner up of old election.”
— Sarah Vishton, Gilfordopposes
“I oppose this bill. It appears to be a retaliatory action by the Goffstown Republican delegation. The bill was introduced after their preferred Republican candidate was not selected to fill a vacant seat on the school board.…”
— Casey Leach, Goffstownopposes

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
  • Mar 3, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate18–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 13, 2025HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 18, 2025Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government54:38–55:451m 7slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 3, 2025Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government5:11:24–5:16:415m 17slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Executive Session
  • Mar 13, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamInexpedient to Legislate — 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. 16
  2. Feb 18, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/18/2025 09:35 am LOB 201
  3. Mar 3, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/03/2025 01:00 pm LOB 301-303
  4. Mar 3, 2025HouseCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 03/03/2025 (Vote 18-0; CC)
  5. Mar 13, 2025HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/13/2025 HJ 8 P. 15

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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