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SB 436 · 2026 · Senate · Election Law and Municipal Affairs Committee

Zoning board recusal standards

AI-generated

relative to zoning board of adjustment membership criteria.

Replaces the existing recusal provision for zoning board of adjustment members with a conflict of interest standard requiring recusal whenever a member's impartiality might reasonably be questioned, including prior quasi-judicial involvement on another board.AI-generated

Status

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

Analysis

This bill replaces the existing recusal provision for zoning board of adjustment members with a conflict of interest standard requiring recusal whenever a member’s impartiality might reasonably be questioned and including prior quasi-judicial involvement on another board.

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

“Any member of a zoning board of adjustment who has a conflict of interest in a matter before the board shall recuse himself or herself from acting or voting on that matter.”
Section 1
“A conflict of interest shall include any circumstance in which the member’s impartiality might reasonably be questioned, including prior involvement in the matter in a quasi-judicial capacity as a voting member of another board.”
Section 1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Daryl AbbasRPrimePresident Pro Tempore
  • Sen. Timothy LangRVice Chair· Election Law and Municipal Affairs
  • Sen. Bill GannonRChair· Judiciary
  • Sen. Victoria SullivanRVice Chair· Education
  • Sen. Keith MurphyRDeputy President Pro Tempore
  • Sen. Regina BirdsellRMajority Leader

Also: Sen. David WattersD

Public testimony

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

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Feb 5, 2026SenateCommittee report: Inexpedient to Legislate5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Feb 5, 2026SenateVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 13, 2026Public hearingSenate Election Law and Municipal Affairs32:38–33:461m 8slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Feb 5, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Vote 5-0; CC; Inexpedient to Legislate — adopted, voice vote

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026SenIntroduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 1
  2. Jan 13, 2026SenHearing: 01/13/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 09:30 am; SC 46
  3. Feb 5, 2026Sen: Inexpedient to Legislate; Vote 5-0; CC; 02/05/2026; SC 4
  4. Feb 5, 2026SenInexpedient to Legislate, MA, VV === BILL KILLED ===; 02/05/2026; SJ 3

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

  • Introducedversion

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