Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
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CACR 14 · 2026 · House · Election Law Committee

Citizenship requirement for elected office

AI-generated

relating to qualifications for office. Providing that candidates of the office of governor, state senator, and state representative shall be citizens of the United States.

Requires candidates for the office of governor, state senator, and state representative to be citizens of the United States.AI-generated

Status

Recommended for passage but never voted; died at adjournment · March 5, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. On the ballot

Analysis

This constitutional amendment concurrent resolution requires candidates for the office of governor, state senator, and state representative to be citizens of the United States.

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

“Provided nevertheless, that no person shall be capable of being elected a senator, who is not a citizen of the United States, of the age of thirty years, and who shall not have been an inhabitant of this state for seven years immediately preceding his election, and at the time thereof he shall be an inhabitant of the district for which he shall be chosen.”
From the bill
“Should such person, after election, cease to be an inhabitant of the district for which he was chosen, he shall be disqualified to hold said position and a vacancy shall be declared therein.”
From the bill
“And the qualifications of electors of the governor shall be the same as those for senators; and if no person shall have a plurality of votes, the senate and house of representatives shall, by joint ballot elect one of the two persons, having the highest number of votes, who shall be declared governor.”
From the bill
“And no person shall be eligible to this office, unless at the time of his election, he shall have been a citizen of the United States, an inhabitant of this state for 7 years next preceding, and unless he shall be of the age of 30 years.”
From the bill

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Katelyn KuttabRPrimeClerk· Judiciary
  • Rep. Robert WherryRChair· Special Committee on COVID Response Efficacy
  • Rep. Jennifer RhodesRVice Chair· Criminal Justice and Public Safety
  • Rep. Bob LynnRChair· Judiciary

Also: Rep. James GuzofskiR, Rep. Katherine Prudhomme-O'BrienR

Public testimony

58 signed in online · 16 wrote testimony

19% support81% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Please Amend: Change the "AND" to an "OR" in one place: "....senator, who is not a citizen of the United States, of the age of thirty years, OR who shall not have been an inhabitant of this....."”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuasupports
“I support this bill because only US born citizens should be eligible to hold office in NH.”
— Daniel Gialanella, Chestersupports
“This amendment to the NH Constitution seeks to add to the Constitution things already dealt with in law. Please vote against this amendment..”
— Patricia Goodlin, New Londonopposes
“This bill is a waste of time and tax dollars. It is totally unnecessary.”
— Jennifer Highland, Bridgewateropposes
“I adamantly oppose this bill which seeks to put into the NH Constitution things that are ALREADY in law and widely believed. This is a complete waste of time for discussion”
— Andrea Powers, Bristolopposes

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 3, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendarCommittee report: Ought to Pass10–6
    Overall
    63% yea
  • Mar 5, 2026HouseRoll callOught to PassFailed182–157How they voted
    Overall
    54% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    180–299% yea
    Democrats
    2–1551% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 27, 2026Public hearingHouse Election Law1:13:05–1:17:264m 21slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 3, 2026Public hearingHouse Election Law1:51:51–1:58:046m 13slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 5, 2026Floor debateHouse floor6:23:36–6:34:5411m 18slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass — failed, roll call 182-157

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Election Law HJ 1 P. 40
  2. Jan 27, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/27/2026 11:00 am GP 158
  3. Feb 3, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/03/2026 10:10 am GP 158
  4. Feb 3, 2026HouseMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass 02/03/2026 (Vote 10-6; RC) HC 9 P. 39
  5. Feb 24, 2026HouseMinority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Mar 5, 2026HouseOught to Pass: MF RC 182-157 Lacking Necessary Three-Fifths Vote 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 109

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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