Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
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HB 365 · 2026 · House · Election Law Committee

Citizenship proof and voucher for voters

AI-generated

relative to proof of United States citizenship for indigent voters.

Establishes a procedure for verifying voter citizenship, creates a voucher program to help indigent voters obtain birth certificates, and requires state reimbursement of municipalities for voucher costs.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · May 19, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill provides a procedure for local election officials and the secretary of state to verify the citizenship of a voter who does not have documentary proof of citizenship. This bill also creates a voucher program for local election officials to give to indigent voters who cannot afford the cost of obtaining a birth certificate, requires the secretary of state to reimburse the municipality for the issuance of such vouchers, and makes an appropriation therefor.

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

“II-a.(a) If a person claiming to be qualified to vote is unable to provide reasonable documentation establishing that the person is a citizen of the United States, at the request of such person, the supervisors of the checklist, the city or town clerk, or other authorized election official shall attempt to confirm the person’s citizenship through the office of the secretary of state.”
Section 68:1
“There is hereby appropriated to the secretary of state the sum of $50,000 for the biennium ending June 30, 2027, for the purpose of reimbursing local municipalities for the costs of vouchers to pay any required fee to obtain a potential voter's birth certificate or equivalent proof of citizenship under RSA 654:12, II-a(b).”
Section 68:2
“The secretary of state shall make reasonable efforts to determine whether the person is a United States citizen by accessing relevant and available in-state, out-of-state, and federal databases that contain such information.”
Section 68:1
“However, if the request to verify citizenship status is made on election day, neither local election officials nor the secretary of state shall be required to expend such time or effort on citizenship verification as would unreasonably interfere with their other election day duties.”
Section 68:1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Bob LynnRPrimeChair· Judiciary
  • Rep. Ross BerryRChair· Election Law
  • Sen. James GrayRChair· Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Public testimony

No one submitted online testimony on this bill. See the record

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Mar 4, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass10–8
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Mar 13, 2025HouseDivisionOught to PassAdopted200–169
    Overall
    54% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • Oct 30, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2994h16–9
    Overall
    64% yea
  • Jan 8, 2026HouseVoice voteAmendment 2025-2994hadopted
  • Jan 8, 2026HouseRoll callOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2994hAdopted195–142How they voted
    Overall
    58% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    188–199% yea
    Democrats
    6–1414% yea
    Other
    1–0100% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • Mar 5, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass3–2
    Overall
    60% yea
  • Mar 5, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • Apr 9, 2026SenateCommittee reportCommittee report: Ought to Pass5–2
    Overall
    71% yea
  • Apr 9, 2026SenateVoice voteSen. Perkins Kwoka Floor Amendment # 2026-1407sfailed
  • Apr 9, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • May 7, 2026SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 11, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law3:24:44–3:25:2541slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 14, 2025Public hearingHouse Election LawWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamSubcommittee Work Session
  • Feb 21, 2025Public hearingHouse Election LawWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamSubcommittee Work Session
  • Mar 4, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law3:16:28–3:20:253m 57slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 13, 2025Floor debateHouse floor4:51:17–4:55:374m 20slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass — adopted, division 200-169; Referred to Finance
  • Mar 24, 2025Public hearingHouse Finance - Division I54:40–56:071m 27slocated in the stream transcriptDivision I Work Session
  • Apr 1, 2025Public hearingHouse Finance24:46–27:222m 36slocated in the stream transcriptExecutive Session
  • Sep 18, 2025Public hearingHouse Finance - Division I29:33–30:501m 17slocated in the stream transcriptDivision I Work Session
  • Oct 2, 2025Public hearingHouse Finance - Division I1:21:07–1:23:041m 57slocated in the stream transcriptDivision I Work Session
  • Oct 30, 2025Public hearingHouse Finance57:05–1:08:1011m 5slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2994h — roll call; Executive Session
  • Jan 8, 2026Floor debateHouse floor30:13–42:1312mlocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2994h — adopted, roll call 195-142; Amendment # 2025-2994h — adopted, voice vote
  • Feb 17, 2026Public hearingSenate Election Law and Municipal Affairs1:11:06–1:12:391m 33slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Mar 5, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 9, 2026Floor debateSenate floor40:05–42:092m 4slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote; Sen. Perkins Kwoka Floor Amendment # 2026-1407s — failed, voice vote
  • May 7, 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 8, 2025HouseIntroduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Election Law HJ 2 P. 16
  2. Feb 11, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/11/2025 01:00 pm LOB 306-308
  3. Feb 14, 2025HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 02/14/2025 09:30 am LOB 306-308
  4. Feb 21, 2025HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 02/21/2025 09:30 am LOB 302-304
  5. Mar 4, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/04/2025 01:00 pm LOB 306-308
  6. Mar 4, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass 03/04/2025 (Vote 10-8; RC)
  7. Mar 5, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  8. Mar 13, 2025HouseOught to Pass: MA DV 200-169 03/13/2025 HJ 8 P. 69
  9. Mar 13, 2025HouseReferred to Finance 03/13/2025 HJ 8 P. 69
  10. Mar 24, 2025HouseDivision I Work Session: 03/24/2025 09:00 am LOB 212
  11. Apr 1, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 04/01/2025 10:00 am LOB 210-211
  12. Apr 2, 2025HouseRetained in Committee
  13. Sep 18, 2025HouseDivision I Work Session: 09/18/2025 10:00 am GP 230
  14. Oct 2, 2025HouseDivision I Work Session: 10/02/2025 01:00 pm GP 230
  15. Oct 30, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 10/30/2025 10:00 am GP 230
  16. Oct 30, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2994h 10/30/2025 (Vote 16-9; RC) HC 51 P. 35
  17. Nov 6, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  18. Jan 8, 2026HouseAmendment # 2025-2994h: AA VV 01/08/2026 HJ 2 P. 2
  19. Jan 8, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2994h: MA RC 195-142 01/08/2026 HJ 2 P. 2
  20. Jan 7, 2026SenIntroduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 2
  21. Feb 17, 2026SenHearing: 02/17/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 10:00 am; SC 6
  22. Mar 5, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass, 03/05/2026; Vote 3-2; CC; SC 8
  23. Mar 5, 2026SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 03/05/2026; SJ 5
  24. Apr 9, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass, 04/09/2026, Vote 5-2; SC 13
  25. Apr 9, 2026SenSen. Perkins Kwoka Floor Amendment # 2026-1407s, AF, VV; 04/09/2026; SJ 8
  26. Apr 9, 2026SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/09/2026; SJ 8
  27. May 7, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/07/2026); SJ 12
  28. May 7, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 05/07/2026 HJ 12 P. 39
  29. May 18, 2026HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 05/18/2026; Chapter 68; eff.07/17/2026

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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