Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
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HB 420 · 2025 · House · Election Law Committee

Ballot chain of custody rules

AI-generated

relative to the chain of custody for ballots.

Establishes additional security requirements governing the storage and transfer of ballots to strengthen chain-of-custody procedures.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 26, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill further defines security measures for the storage and transfer of ballots.

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 secretary of state shall, before any state election, prepare and distribute to each town and ward clerk reusable security containers to be used for preserving ballots and sealers to seal each such container.”
RSA 659:97
“The clerk or the clerk's designee shall, without breaking the seals or otherwise changing the condition of the containers, deposit the containers in the town or city hall.”
RSA 659:98
“He or she shall[ prepare] provide special locking containers [and] with serialized proprietary sealers to be used for preserving any special and separate ballots for questions to voters.”
RSA 659:97
“The secretary of state shall prescribe the size and form of such containers and sealers, which shall be frangible paper seals, and shall prescribe the form of any endorsement blank printed upon the sealers, provided that the blank is in substance consistent with the provisions of RSA 659:95.”
RSA 659:97

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Matt Sabourin dit ChoinièreRPrime
  • Rep. JD BernardyRClerk· Science, Technology and Energy
  • Rep. Robert WherryRChair· Special Committee on COVID Response Efficacy
  • Rep. Katelyn KuttabRClerk· Judiciary
  • Rep. Tom MannionRAssistant Majority Whip

Also: Rep. Sandra PanekR, Rep. Clayton WoodR, Rep. Mike BelcherR, Rep. Tim MannionR, Rep. John SellersR

Public testimony

15 signed in online · 2 wrote testimony

47% support53% oppose0% neutral

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Mar 18, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate16–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 26, 2025HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Mar 4, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law20:56–23:072m 11slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 18, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law7:42–10:352m 53slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Executive Session
  • Mar 26, 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 Election Law HJ 3 P. 9
  2. Mar 4, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 03/04/2025 10:20 am LOB 306-308
  3. Mar 18, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/18/2025 10:00 am LOB 306-308
  4. Mar 18, 2025House: Inexpedient to Legislate 03/18/2025 (Vote 16-0; CC) HC 17 P. 13
  5. Mar 26, 2025HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 21

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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