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SB 16 · 2025 · Senate · Election Law and Municipal Affairs Committee

Public posting of election returns

AI-generated

requiring municipalities to post a copy of election return forms on their websites and in public locations.

Requires municipalities to post copies of election return forms on their websites and in public locations.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · June 11, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✓House
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill requires municipalities to post a copy of election return forms on their websites and in public locations.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“The city or town clerk shall, within 7 days of an election, post copies of the election return forms submitted to the secretary of state under paragraphs I and II of this section.”
Section 79:1
“The city or town clerk shall post copies in the 2 places where the municipality regularly posts notices of its governing body meetings, which may include the municipality's main website and any social media accounts utilized by the municipality.”
Section 79:1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. James GrayRPrimeChair· Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Public testimony

146 signed in online · 18 wrote testimony

99% support1% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I urge you to support SB16 . It will increase levels of election transparency, and that is what a healthy democracy needs.”
— Holley Daschbach, Exetersupports
“SUPPORT SB16 COMMON SENSE to post election return forms on town websites and public locations- its called transparency. Robin Helrich Hopkinton”
— Robin Helrich, Hopkintonsupports
“This legislation would encourage helpful, greater transparency by municipalities regarding voting.”
— Elizabeth Black, Concordsupports

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
  • Feb 13, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0259s5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Feb 13, 2025SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2025-0259sadopted
  • Feb 13, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-0259sadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • Apr 22, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass14–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 1, 2025HouseVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • May 22, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 14, 2025Public hearingSenate Election Law and Municipal Affairs22:35–24:021m 27slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Feb 13, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0259s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-0259s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2025-0259s — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 22, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law3:11:59–3:15:413m 42slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Public Hearing; Executive Session
  • May 1, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • May 22, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Adopted — voice vote

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 8, 2025SenIntroduced 01/08/2025 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 2
  2. Jan 14, 2025SenHearing: 01/14/2025, Room 103, LOB, 09:40 am; SC 5
  3. Feb 13, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0259s, 02/13/2025; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 9
  4. Feb 13, 2025SenCommittee Amendment # 2025-0259s, AA, VV; 02/13/2025; SJ 5
  5. Feb 13, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-0259s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 02/13/2025; SJ 5
  6. Mar 27, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Election Law HJ 11 P. 109
  7. Apr 22, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 04/22/2025 01:00 pm LOB 306-308
  8. Apr 22, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 04/22/2025 01:00 pm LOB 306-308
  9. Apr 29, 2025House==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 04/29/2025 10:00 am LOB 306-308
  10. Apr 22, 2025House: Ought to Pass 04/22/2025 (Vote 14-0; CC) HC 22 P. 7
  11. May 1, 2025HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 05/01/2025 HJ 13 P. 2
  12. May 22, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 53
  13. May 22, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/22/2025); SJ 15
  14. Jun 10, 2025SenSigned by the Governor on 06/10/2025; Chapter 0079; Effective 08/09/2025

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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