Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
← All bills

HB 1257 · 2026 · House · Election Law Committee

Two-year residency for candidates

AI-generated

requiring that candidates for state representative and state senator live in the district for which they seek election for at least 2 years.

Requires candidates for state representative and state senator to have lived in the district they seek to represent for at least 2 years.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 5, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill requires candidates for the offices of state representative and state senator live in the district for which they seek election for at least 2 years.

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

“Should such person, after election, cease to be an inhabitant of the district for which he or she was chosen, he or she shall be disqualified to hold said position and a vacancy shall be declared therein.”
RSA 655:7

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Michael CahillDPrime

Public testimony

14 signed in online · 5 wrote testimony

50% support50% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“My name is Karen and I live and vote in Bristol. I SUPPORT this bill that would require the Secretary of the State to alert the public about constitutional amendments.”
— Karen Bemis, Bristolsupports
“Those elected should ABSOLUTELY live in the location of which they are being elected to serve. Requiring prior residence is logical and is what is best for the people. They need to know people that they represent, not have just met them.…”
— Carol P, Rochestersupports
“I am respectfully requesting that you oppose bill HB1257, for the following reasons: - It creates arbitrary and unnecessary barriers to citizen participation.…”
— Teresa Brooks, Manchesteropposes

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 10, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate16–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 5, 2026HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 3, 2026Public hearingHouse Election Law1:01:38–1:02:461m 8slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 5, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamInexpedient to Legislate — 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 Election Law HJ 1 P. 12
  2. Feb 3, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/03/2026 10:00 am GP 158
  3. Feb 10, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/10/2026 11:00 am GP 158
  4. Feb 10, 2026HouseCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/10/2026 (Vote 16-0; CC) HC 9 P. 13
  5. Mar 5, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 14

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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