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HB 356 · 2025 · House · Election Law Committee

Allowing partisan school board elections

AI-generated

enabling school districts to adopt partisan school district elections.

Allows school districts to vote to adopt a partisan ballot system for electing school district officers, alongside the existing non-partisan system, and sets filing and ballot procedures for each option.AI-generated

Status

Vetoed; the override vote failed, so the veto stands · December 17, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✕Governor
  5. Law

Governor's veto message

“Local school boards are run properly and in a nonpartisan manner. Additionally, there is no need to fix a system that is not broken.”
— Gov. Kelly Ayotte · Jul 7, 2025 · excerpt
Governor's press releaseHouse Journal 19, p. 17

The House voted 177–174 on the override (Dec 17, 2025) — short of the two-thirds required, so the veto was sustained.

Analysis

This bill enables school districts to choose whether or not to adopt partisan school district elections.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Robert WherryRPrimeChair· Special Committee on COVID Response Efficacy
  • Rep. Juliet Harvey-BoliaRDeputy Majority Floor Leader
  • Rep. Diane PauerRChair· Municipal and County Government
  • Rep. James CreightonRChair· Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services

Also: Rep. Deborah AylwardR, Rep. Ralph BoehmR

Public testimony

454 signed in online · 92 wrote testimony

2% support98% oppose0% neutral

ForGives districts local choice and improves transparency

AgainstParty politics doesn't belong in school board elections

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I support using criteria for redistricting that allows fair representation for all voters in NH, not one group or party in particular.”
— Joanne Davis, CONCORDsupports
“This bill is an important step in empowering our school districts by providing them with the choice to adopt a partisan ballot system if they believe it will better serve their community’s needs.…”
— Blossom Dodge, Concordsupports
“Although many have chosen a particular party when voting in statewide and national elections, this should not be part of local elections.”
— Kathleen Bean, Durhamsupports
“I'm so sick and tired of opposing these horrible bills. Get a grip.”
— Max Kolesar, Hooksettopposes
“As citizens of the US, our government has no right to restrict our voting to only the parties THEY choose. We have the constitutional right to vote for any partisan or non-partisan candidate of our choosing.…”
— Ken Steinberg, Nashuaopposes
“The more we label one another as D or R or I, the less likely we are to truly engage in conversation and find common ground.…”
— Faith Eherts, Nashuaopposes

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

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings

  • 2025-02-259:00 amHouse Election LawLOB 306-308Public hearing
  • 2025-03-041:00 pmHouse Election LawLOB 306-308Public hearing
  • 2025-03-119:00 amHouse Election LawLOB 306-308Public hearingrescheduled
  • 2025-05-139:15 amSenate Election Law and Municipal AffairsLOB 103Public hearing

Legislative history

  1. Jan 8, 2025HouseIntroduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Election Law HJ 2 P. 16
  2. Feb 25, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/25/2025 10:00 am LOB 306-308
  3. Mar 4, 2025House==RECESSED== Executive Session: 03/04/2025 01:00 pm LOB 306-308
  4. Mar 11, 2025House==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 03/11/2025 09:00 am LOB 306-308
  5. Mar 11, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0619h 03/11/2025 (Vote 10-7; RC) HC 17 P. 55
  6. Mar 19, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  7. Mar 27, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0619h: AA VV 03/27/2025 HJ 11 P. 26
  8. Mar 27, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0619h: MA DV 200-173 03/27/2025 HJ 11 P. 26
  9. Mar 27, 2025SenIntroduced 03/27/2025 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 10
  10. May 13, 2025SenHearing: 05/13/2025, Room 103, LOB, 09:25 am; SC 21
  11. May 15, 2025Sen: Inexpedient to Legislate, 05/15/2025, Vote 3-2; SC 21A
  12. May 15, 2025SenInexpedient to Legislate, RC 10Y-13N, MF; 05/15/2025; SJ 13
  13. May 15, 2025SenSen. Lang Moved Ought to Pass; 05/15/2025; SJ 13
  14. May 15, 2025SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/15/2025; SJ 13
  15. Jun 12, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/12/2025); SJ 17
  16. Jun 12, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/12/2025 HJ 17 P. 26
  17. Jul 7, 2025HouseVetoed by Governor Ayotte 07/07/2025 HJ 19 P. 17
  18. Dec 17, 2025HouseVeto Sustained 12/17/2025: RC 177-174 Lacking Necessary Two-Thirds Vote HJ 19

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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