Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
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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.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“A member of the public body may participate in a meeting other than by attendance in person at the location of the meeting only when such attendance is [not reasonably practical] unavoidable.”
Section 1
“Any reason that such attendance is [not reasonably practical] unavoidable shall be stated in the minutes of the meeting.”
Section 1

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

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Jan 30, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate13–4
    Overall
    76% yea
  • Feb 20, 2025HouseDivisionInexpedient to LegislateFailed179–190
    Overall
    49% yea
  • Feb 20, 2025HouseDivisionAmendment 2025-0312hAdopted190–179
    Overall
    51% yea
  • Feb 20, 2025HouseDivisionOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0312hAdopted188–181
    Overall
    51% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 22, 2025SenateCommittee report: Inexpedient to Legislate5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 22, 2025SenateVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 22, 2025Public hearingHouse Judiciary2:32:16–2:39:347m 18slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Jan 30, 2025Public hearingHouse JudiciaryWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate — roll call; Executive Session
  • Feb 20, 2025Floor debateHouse floor4:10:59–4:26:5615m 57slocated in the stream transcriptInexpedient to Legislate — failed, division 179-190; Ought to Pass with Amendment 2025-0312h — adopted, division 188-181; Amendment # 2025-0312h (NT) — adopted, division 190-179
  • May 13, 2025Public hearingSenate Judiciary1:26:28–1:27:361m 8slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 22, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Vote 5-0; CC; Inexpedient to Legislate — adopted, voice vote

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

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.