Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
← All bills

HB 80 · 2025 · House · Judiciary Committee

Restricting remote attendance at meetings

AI-generated

(New Title) allowing a public body member's presence at a meeting by electronic or other means of communication only if physical presence is unavoidable.

Requires members of a public body to attend meetings in person unless physical presence is unavoidable.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the Senate — Inexpedient to Legislate · May 22, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill requires a public body's member to be physically present at a meeting unless physical presence is unavoidable and provides that physical presence is required for voting.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Len TurcotteRPrime
  • Rep. Claudine BurnhamRDeputy Majority Whip

Also: Rep. Aidan AnkarbergI, Rep. Kelley PotenzaR, Rep. Michael GrangerR, Rep. Glenn BaileyR

Public testimony

17 signed in online · 4 wrote testimony

29% support65% oppose6% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Voting should be done in-person. Citizens should expect their officials to show up to vote.”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuasupports
“I believe elected officials should be present in person at meetings requiring a vote. However, if there is an emergency, illness, or out-of-state issue, then those reasons may provide an exception for an online vote.…”
— Claudine Burnham, Miltonsupports
“No reason to mess with this bill..it is semantics and not worthy of your time.”
— Crystal Pelletier, Starkopposes

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

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings

  • 2025-01-2210:00 amHouse JudiciaryLOB 206-208Public hearing
  • 2025-01-3010:00 amHouse JudiciaryLOB 206-208Public hearing
  • 2025-05-131:00 pmSenate JudiciarySH 100Public hearing

Legislative history

  1. Jan 8, 2025HouseIntroduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Judiciary HJ 2 P. 5
  2. Jan 22, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/22/2025 11:00 am LOB 206-208
  3. Jan 30, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 01/30/2025 10:00 am LOB 206-208
  4. Jan 30, 2025HouseMajority : Inexpedient to Legislate 01/30/2025 (Vote 13-4; RC) HC 12 P. 18
  5. Feb 10, 2025HouseMinority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0312h (NT)
  6. Feb 20, 2025HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MF DV 179-190 02/20/2025 HJ 6 P. 46
  7. Feb 20, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0312h (NT): AA DV 190-179 02/20/2025 HJ 6 P. 48
  8. Feb 20, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0312h: MA DV 188-181 02/20/2025 HJ 6 P. 48
  9. Mar 6, 2025SenIntroduced 03/06/2025 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 7
  10. May 13, 2025SenHearing: 05/13/2025, Room 100, SH, 01:50 pm; SC 21
  11. May 22, 2025Sen: Inexpedient to Legislate; Vote 5-0; CC; 05/22/2025; SC 22A
  12. May 22, 2025SenInexpedient to Legislate, MA, VV === BILL KILLED ===; 05/22/2025; SJ 14

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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