Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
← All bills

HB 481 · 2026 · House · Election Law Committee

Moving the state primary date

AI-generated

(New Title) relative to the state primary date.

Moves the date of the state primary election to June.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · May 12, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill moves the state primary date to June.

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

“The state primary election shall be held on the second Tuesday in [September] June of every even-numbered year. 44:2 Voters and Checklists;”
RSA 653:8
“Before each state or presidential primary election, the supervisors of the checklist shall be in session before each primary for the change of registration of legal voters as provided in RSA 654:34 or 654:34-a or both.”
RSA 654:32
“Except for those who must file with a town or city clerk, any person who files on the last day of the filing period must do so in person before the secretary of state[; provided, however, that this requirement shall not apply to the filling of vacancies by party committees.”
RSA 655:16
“The officer with whom primary petitions are filed shall immediately upon receipt thereof examine the same and ascertain whether they conform to the law.”
RSA 655:26

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Kris SchultzDPrime
  • Rep. Ross BerryRChair· Election Law
  • Rep. Michael MoffettRChair· State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs
  • Sen. Timothy LangRVice Chair· Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Also: Rep. Alicia GreggD

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 Pass13–5
    Overall
    72% yea
  • Mar 26, 2025HouseDivisionFloor amendment 2025-1360h (Rep. Berry)Adopted337–1
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 26, 2025HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-1360hadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 15, 2025SenateCommittee report: Rereferred to Committee5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 15, 2025SenateVoice voteRereferred to Committeeadopted
  • Jan 7, 2026SenateCommittee reportCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-3068s5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Jan 7, 2026SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2025-3068sadopted
  • Jan 7, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-3068sadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • Apr 9, 2026HouseVoice voteHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-3068s (Rep. Berry)adopted
    Resulting text: Bill as adopted by both chambers
  • Apr 23, 2026SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Mar 4, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law3:49:39–3:52:212m 42slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 26, 2025Floor debateHouse floor1:01:58–1:03:071m 9slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-1360h — adopted, voice vote; FLAM # 2025-1360h (Rep. Berry) — adopted, division 337-1
  • Apr 29, 2025Public hearingSenate Election Law and Municipal AffairsWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamHearing
  • May 15, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Rereferred to Committee; Rereferred to Committee — adopted, voice vote
  • Jan 7, 2026Floor debateSenate floor3:22:58–3:25:042m 6slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-3068s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-3068s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2025-3068s — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 9, 2026Floor debateHouse floor56:00–57:121m 12slocated in the stream transcriptHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-3068s (Rep. Berry) — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 23, 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 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Election Law HJ 3 P. 12
  2. Feb 25, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/25/2025 11:00 am LOB 306-308
  3. Mar 4, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/04/2025 01:00 pm LOB 306-308
  4. Mar 4, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass 03/04/2025 (Vote 13-5; RC) HC 17 P. 29
  5. Mar 18, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Mar 26, 2025HouseFLAM # 2025-1360h (Rep. Berry): AA DV 337-1 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 55
  7. Mar 26, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-1360h: MA VV 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 55
  8. Mar 27, 2025SenIntroduced 03/27/2025 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 10
  9. Apr 29, 2025SenHearing: 04/29/2025, Room 103, LOB, 10:30 am; SC 19
  10. May 15, 2025Sen: Rereferred to Committee, 05/15/2025; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 21
  11. May 15, 2025SenRereferred to Committee, MA, VV; 05/15/2025; SJ 13
  12. Jan 7, 2026SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-3068s, 01/07/2026, Vote 5-0; SC 46
  13. Jan 7, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2025-3068s, AA, VV; 01/07/2026; SJ 1
  14. Jan 7, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-3068s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 01/07/2026; SJ 1
  15. Apr 9, 2026HouseHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-3068s (Rep. Berry): MA VV 04/09/2026 HJ 10 P. 8
  16. Apr 23, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 04/23/2026); SJ 11
  17. Apr 23, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 82
  18. May 8, 2026HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 05/08/2026; Chapter 44; eff. 01/01/2028

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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