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HB 1355 · 2026 · House · Municipal and County Government Committee

Default budget elimination for towns

AI-generated

relative to eliminating the default budget from the official ballot referenda.

Eliminates the inclusion of a default budget on official ballot referenda for towns using that meeting format and changes the procedure that applies if the operating budget warrant article fails.AI-generated

Status

Referred to interim study (Senate) · May 5, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill eliminates the inclusion of a default budget in an operating budget warrant article for towns that use the official ballot referenda form of meeting. This bill further changes the procedures for what occurs should the operating budget warrant article fail.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Kristin NobleRPrimeChair· Education Policy and Administration
  • Rep. Keith AmmonRMajority Floor Leader
  • Rep. Ross BerryRChair· Election Law
  • Rep. Mike DragoRMajority Whip
  • Rep. Brian LabrieRClerk· Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services
  • Rep. Erica LayonRChair· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Rep. Tom MannionRAssistant Majority Whip
  • Rep. Diane PauerRChair· Municipal and County Government

Also: Rep. Cyril AuresR

Public testimony

144 signed in online · 28 wrote testimony

1% support99% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“This is another attempt to defund public services and public education. Our children lose out, and so does the community when schools are underfunded.”
— Kim Paynter, Eppingopposes
“I oppose this bill as a parent of a child who attends public schools and a teacher in a public school. By eliminating the default budget as a backup in the case that a proposed budget fails at an annual school district meeting would be disastrous.…”
— Sarah Graham, Rindgeopposes
“Here is yet another attempt to cut public services by eliminating the default budget and cut public school services. This is just another attempt to defund public services and public education- all of the things that make America actually great.”
— Sierra Dolce, Sandownopposes

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings

  • 2026-01-239:00 amHouse Municipal and County GovernmentGP 154Public hearing
  • 2026-02-179:00 amHouse Municipal and County GovernmentGP 154Public hearingrescheduled
  • 2026-03-0310:30 amHouse Municipal and County GovernmentGP 154Public hearing
  • 2026-04-289:15 amSenate Election Law and Municipal AffairsSH 122-123Public hearing

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Municipal and County Government HJ 1 P. 16
  2. Jan 23, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/23/2026 11:15 am GP 154
  3. Feb 17, 2026House==RECESSED== Executive Session: 02/17/2026 09:00 am GP 154
  4. Mar 3, 2026House==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 03/03/2026 10:30 am GP 154
  5. Mar 3, 2026HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0695h 03/03/2026 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 10 P. 68
  6. Mar 4, 2026HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  7. Mar 12, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0695h: AA VV 03/12/2026 HJ 8 P. 42
  8. Mar 12, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0695h: MA DV 176-160 03/12/2026 HJ 8 P. 42
  9. Mar 12, 2026SenIntroduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 7
  10. Apr 28, 2026SenHearing: 04/28/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 10:15 am; SC 16
  11. May 7, 2026Sen: Referred to Interim Study, 05/07/2026; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 17
  12. May 7, 2026SenRefer to Interim Study, MA, VV; 05/07/2026; SJ 11

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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