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HB 1838 · 2026 · House · Election Law Committee

Voter-owned elections fund and fees

AI-generated

establishing a voter-owned elections fund and commission and raising vehicle registration fees.

Establishes a voter-owned elections fund and commission to provide financial support to certain candidates, funded in part by increased motor vehicle registration fees and a new private registration fee.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · February 19, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill: I. Establishes a voter-owned elections fund. II. Raises motor vehicle registration fees. III. Establishes a private motor vehicle registration fee. IV. Creates a voter-owned elections commission to provide financial support to certain candidates for office.

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

“The ballot law commission and the voter-owned elections commission shall each function within the department of state as a separate organizational entity and with all the powers and duties as heretofore provided, except as otherwise provided by law.”
RSA 5:13
“"Affidavit of registration" means a form completed and filed by a candidate according to procedures and forms developed by the voter-owned elections commission demonstrating and certifying that the candidate will comply with all the requirements of this chapter.”
RSA 664-A:1
“There is established a voter-owned elections fund to be used for the purposes of providing public financing for the primary and general election campaigns of participating candidates and paying for the administrative costs of this chapter.”
RSA 664-A:2
“A candidate for executive councilor shall qualify as a participating candidate for the primary election campaign period if:”
RSA 664-A:3

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Russell MuirheadDPrimeDeputy Ranking Member· Election Law

Public testimony

95 signed in online · 12 wrote testimony

93% support7% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I support this bill that encourages public funding of elections with the goal of removing dark money. While it increases vehicle registration fees, that could be paid for repealing the $300-$500 million tax break given to wealthy corporations and shareholders.”
— Louise Ewing, Antrimsupports
“Voter Owned Elections empower voters to have a strong voice in government and allows candidates without great wealth to run for office.…”
— Corinne Dodge, Derrysupports
“This bill goes along with my HB1201 comments. It creates a voter-owned elections system for New Hampshire’s Executive Council that uses public financing to help candidates run competitive campaigns without relying on big donors or special interests.…”
— Sharon Racusin, Hanoversupports

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 calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate10–7
    Overall
    59% yea
  • Feb 19, 2026HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 20, 2026Public hearingHouse Election Lawfrom 5:40:45located in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Jan 27, 2026Public hearingHouse Election LawWatchnamed in a list of bills, not taken up — opens the full stream==RECESSED== Executive Session
  • Feb 3, 2026Public hearingHouse Election Law2:56:41–2:59:282m 47slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate — roll call; ==CONTINUED== Executive Session
  • Feb 19, 2026Floor debateHouse floor1:49:01–1:50:101m 9slocated in the stream transcriptInexpedient 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. 38
  2. Jan 20, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/20/2026 02:45 pm GP 158
  3. Jan 27, 2026House==RECESSED== Executive Session: 01/27/2026 10:10 am GP 158
  4. Feb 3, 2026House==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 02/03/2026 10:10 am GP 158
  5. Feb 3, 2026HouseMajority : Inexpedient to Legislate 02/03/2026 (Vote 10-7; RC) HC 7 P. 32
  6. Feb 11, 2026HouseMinority : Ought to Pass
  7. Feb 19, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 70

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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