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HB 1044 · 2026 · House · Municipal and County Government Committee

Filling county commissioner vacancies

AI-generated

relative to the filling of vacancies in the office of a county commissioner.

Requires a vacancy in the office of county commissioner to be filled by members of the county convention and allows district-based voting where applicable.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · May 12, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill requires a vacancy in the office of county commissioner to be filled by the members of the county convention and allows district-based voting where applicable.

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

“If a vacancy occurs in the office of a county commissioner, the members of the county convention shall fill the vacancy as follows:”
Section 48:1
“If voting for the commissioners in the biennial election is not by district or is not restricted to residents of the district, all of the county convention members shall vote to fill the vacancy by a majority of the ballots cast until the next biennial election of county officers.”
Section 48:1
“If the commissioners of the county in the biennial elections are elected by district and voting for the commissioner is restricted to residents of the district, only members of the county convention who represent city wards or towns in the district shall be eligible to vote.”
Section 48:1
“If the term filled is less than the unexpired term, then notwithstanding any provisions of RSA 653:1, VI, the commissioner district filled pursuant to this paragraph shall be added to the next biennial election ballot to be chosen by the voters of the county for the remainder of the term.”
Section 48:1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Len TurcotteRPrime
  • Rep. Claudine BurnhamRClerk· Election Law
  • Sen. James GrayRChair· Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Also: Rep. Glenn BaileyR, Rep. David WalkerR, Rep. Susan DeRoyR, Rep. Michael HarringtonR, Rep. Aidan AnkarbergI, Rep. Samuel FarringtonR, Rep. Kelley PotenzaR, Rep. Michael GrangerR

Public testimony

22 signed in online · 5 wrote testimony

27% support73% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“The vacancies should only be voted on by delegates in the district, just the the voters to whom this position represents (those is the district) were the only votes counted in selecting the representative.”
— C P, Rochestersupports
“Written Testimony in Support of HB 1044 AN ACT relative to the filling of vacancies in the office of a county commissioner Before the House Municipal and County Government Committee January 2026 Madam Chair and Members of the Committee, I submit this testimony as a…”
— Susan Rice, Rochestersupports
“This bill attempts to fix something that is not broken. Sullivan doesn’t need this. I could only cause confusion.”
— Joe Osgood, Claremontopposes
“Opposition Testimony on HB 1044: Relative to the Filling of Vacancies in the Office of County Commissioner I stand in strong opposition to HB 1044, which seeks to amend the procedures for filling vacancies in the office of county commissioners.…”
— Georgina Lambert, Belmontopposes

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

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 13, 2026Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government59:06–1:05:366m 30slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing; Executive Session
  • Feb 5, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0069h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2026-0069h — adopted, voice vote
  • Mar 10, 2026Public hearingSenate Election Law and Municipal Affairs1:20:28–1:21:361m 8slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Mar 26, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1205s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1205s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-1205s — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 9, 2026Floor debateHouse floor1:03:24–1:05:061m 42slocated in the stream transcriptHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1205s (Rep. Pauer) — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 23, 2026Floor 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 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Municipal and County Government HJ 1 P. 3
  2. Jan 13, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/13/2026 10:00 am GP 154
  3. Jan 13, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 01/13/2026 10:00 am GP 154
  4. Jan 20, 2026House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0069h 01/20/2026 (Vote 18-0; CC) HC 5 P. 10
  5. Feb 5, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0069h: AA VV 02/05/2026 HJ 3 P. 13
  6. Feb 5, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0069h: MA VV 02/05/2026 HJ 3 P. 13
  7. Feb 5, 2026SenIntroduced 02/05/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 4
  8. Mar 10, 2026SenHearing: 03/10/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 10:00 am; SC 9
  9. Mar 26, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1205s, 03/26/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 11
  10. Mar 26, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1205s, AA, VV; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
  11. Mar 26, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-1205s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
  12. Apr 9, 2026HouseHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1205s (Rep. Pauer): MA VV 04/09/2026 HJ 10 P. 8
  13. Apr 23, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 04/23/2026); SJ 11
  14. Apr 23, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 82
  15. May 8, 2026HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 05/08/2026; Chapter 48; eff. 07/07/2026

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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