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HB 1487 · 2026 · House · Election Law Committee

Independent redistricting advisory commission

AI-generated

creating an independent commission to propose redistricting maps for the legislature to consider.

Establishes an independent advisory commission, with members screened by retired judges, to draw and propose legislative and congressional redistricting maps for the legislature's consideration.AI-generated

Status

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

Analysis

This bill creates an independent commission to propose redistricting maps for the legislature to consider.

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

“A person shall be eligible for appointment to the commission if the person has been a resident of New Hampshire for 2 years, is eligible to register to vote in New Hampshire, and if the person does not currently hold office in, is not a candidate for, and has not served in any of the following offices for the last 10 years:”
RSA 662-B:2
“By August 10 of the year in which the federal decennial census occurs, the secretary of state shall, after holding at least one public hearing, prepare an application form that includes, but is not limited to, the criteria in paragraph IV and that will allow appointing authorities to evaluate a person's experience and qualifications.”
RSA 662-B:3
“The first meeting of the commissioners shall occur on or before May 1 of the year following the year in which the federal decennial census occurs.”
RSA 662-B:4
“During the map drawing process, any member of the public may submit maps or portions of maps for consideration by the commission in a portable document format suitable for archiving (PDF/A) format, or other format approved by the secretary of state.”
RSA 662-B:5

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Connie LaneDPrimeRanking Member· Election Law
  • Rep. Karen EbelDDemocratic Leader Pro Tempore
  • Rep. Alexis SimpsonDDemocratic Leader
  • Sen. Rebecca Perkins KwokaDMinority Leader

Also: Rep. Lucius ParshallD, Rep. Terry SpahrD, Rep. Jared SullivanD, Rep. Gerald WardD

Public testimony

254 signed in online · 56 wrote testimony

99% support1% oppose0% neutral

ForIndependent commission would produce fairer maps than partisan control

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“As a member of the 2021 Map-a-thon redistricting advocacy project, I support 1487, because an independent redistricting commission would enhance the fairness of the redistricting process and thereby enhance public confidence in NH's elections.”
— Cotten Smith, Eppingsupports
“Our first in the nation primary is at risk, and anything that makes our process of choosing candidates less legitimate is a nail in the coffin of our primary.…”
— Marilynn Ezell, Templesupports
“Creating an independent Redistricting Commission would be a positive step for democracy and long overdue. Please support this bill.”
— Patricia Goodlin, New Londonsupports

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
  • Jan 27, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate9–7
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Feb 5, 2026HouseRoll callInexpedient to LegislateAdopted189–164How they voted
    Overall
    54% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    187–299% yea
    Democrats
    2–1621% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 20, 2026Public hearingHouse Election Law2:03:02–2:14:4811m 46slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Jan 27, 2026Public hearingHouse Election Law2:00:02–2:05:155m 13slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate — roll call; Executive Session
  • Feb 5, 2026Floor debateHouse floor3:46:32–3:51:555m 23slocated in the stream transcriptInexpedient to Legislate — adopted, roll call 189-164

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. 22
  2. Jan 20, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/20/2026 10:20 am GP 158
  3. Jan 27, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 01/27/2026 10:10 am GP 158
  4. Jan 27, 2026HouseMajority : Inexpedient to Legislate 01/27/2026 (Vote 9-7; RC) HC 5 P. 22
  5. Jan 28, 2026HouseMinority : Ought to Pass
  6. Feb 5, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA RC 189-164 02/05/2026 HJ 3 P. 39

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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