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SB 222 · 2025 · Senate · Election Law and Municipal Affairs Committee

Moving state primary to June

AI-generated

relative to moving the state primary date.

Moves the state primary election date to June.AI-generated

Status

Died on the table in the House · June 5, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✕House
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill moves the state primary date to June.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“The state primary election shall be held on the second Tuesday in [September] June of every even-numbered year.”
RSA 653:8
“Before each state or presidential primary election, the supervisors of the checklist shall be in session before each primary for the change of registration of legal voters as provided in RSA 654:34 or 654:34-a or both.”
RSA 654:32
“The officer with whom primary petitions are filed shall immediately upon receipt thereof examine the same and ascertain whether they conform to the law.”
RSA 655:26
“Nomination papers made in accordance with the provisions of this chapter shall be regarded as valid and shall be received by the secretary of state unless objection thereto is made in writing no later than the Monday following the last day for the filing of such papers.”
RSA 655:44

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Timothy LangRPrimeVice Chair· Election Law and Municipal Affairs
  • Sen. Howard PearlRChair· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Sen. Victoria SullivanRVice Chair· Education
  • Sen. Daniel InnisRChair, Majority Policy Conference
  • Sen. Kevin AvardRDeputy Majority Whip
  • Sen. Ruth WardRDeputy Majority Leader
  • Sen. Denise RicciardiRDeputy Majority Leader
  • Sen. Rebecca Perkins KwokaDMinority Leader

Also: Sen. Tim McGoughR, Sen. David WattersD

Public testimony

25 signed in online · 3 wrote testimony

72% support24% oppose4% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Changing the State election primary date to June allows for more time for candidates to inform voters of their positions and for voter research on candidates and party positions. Please vote OTP. Thanks!”
— Leane Garland, Hanoversupports
“Please support this bill - primary needs to earlier - move date to June.”
— Nancy Miles, Hanoversupports
“I am writing today to encourage the committee to reconsider the date that has been chosen.…”
— Bernard Campbell, Salemneutral

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
  • Mar 27, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1119s5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 27, 2025SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2025-1119sadopted
  • Mar 27, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-1119sadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • May 27, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass10–8
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Jun 5, 2025HouseDivisionAmendment 2025-2406hFailed153–185
    Overall
    45% yea
  • Jun 5, 2025HouseDivisionOught to PassFailed168–170
    Overall
    50% yea
  • Jun 5, 2025HouseVoice voteLay SB222 on Table (Rep. Berry)adopted
  • Jun 5, 2025HouseRoll callRemove from Table (Rep. Wherry)Failed151–168How they voted
    Overall
    47% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    149–2785% yea
    Democrats
    2–1411% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Mar 11, 2025Public hearingSenate Election Law and Municipal Affairs45:49–51:065m 17slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Mar 27, 2025Floor debateSenate floor4:50:37–4:54:303m 53slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1119s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-1119s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2025-1119s — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 22, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law1:01:41–1:03:101m 29slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing on non-germane Amendment # 2025-1621h; Public Hearing
  • May 27, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law1:08:35–1:13:445m 9slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass — roll call; Executive Session
  • Jun 5, 2025Floor debateHouse floor8:31:32–8:35:494m 17slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass — failed, division 168-170; Amendment # 2025-2406h — failed, division 153-185; Lay SB222 on Table (Rep. Berry) — adopted, voice vote
  • Dec 17, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamDied on Table, Session ended

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025SenIntroduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 3
  2. Mar 11, 2025SenHearing: 03/11/2025, Room 103, LOB, 09:45 am; SC 12
  3. Mar 27, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1119s, 03/27/2025; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 14
  4. Mar 27, 2025SenSB 222 was Removed from the Consent Calendar; 03/27/2025; SJ 9
  5. Mar 27, 2025SenCommittee Amendment # 2025-1119s, AA, VV; 03/27/2025; SJ 9
  6. Mar 27, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-1119s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/27/2025; SJ 9
  7. Mar 27, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Election Law HJ 11 P. 113
  8. Apr 22, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 04/22/2025 11:00 am LOB 306-308
  9. Apr 22, 2025HousePublic Hearing on non-germane Amendment # 2025-1621h: 04/22/2025 02:50 pm LOB 306-308
  10. Apr 29, 2025House==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 04/29/2025 10:00 am LOB 306-308
  11. May 27, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 05/27/2025 10:00 am LOB 306-308
  12. May 27, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass 05/27/2025 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 27 P. 20
  13. May 28, 2025HouseMinority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2406h
  14. Jun 5, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-2406h: AF DV 153-185 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 131
  15. Jun 5, 2025HouseOught to Pass: MF DV 168-170 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 132
  16. Jun 5, 2025HouseLay SB222 on Table (Rep. Berry): MA VV 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 132
  17. Jun 5, 2025HouseRemove from Table (Rep. Wherry): MF RC 151-168 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 156
  18. Dec 17, 2025HouseDied on Table, Session ended 12/17/2025 HJ 18

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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