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SB 653 · 2026 · Senate · Election Law and Municipal Affairs Committee

Municipal and county budget procedures

AI-generated

(New Title) enabling counties to change the dates of their biennial budgets and relative to the adopting of a municipal budget committee and electing members thereof.

Modifies procedures for adopting, rescinding, and electing municipal budget committees, adjusts the appointment timeframe for initial cooperative school district budget committee members, and enables counties to change their biennial budget dates.AI-generated

Status

Died — the House and Senate did not agree · May 21, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕Senate
  3. House
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill: I. Modifies the procedure for adopting, rescinding, and electing a municipal budget committee. II. Modifies the time frame for the appointment of initial members of a cooperative school district budget committee. III. Enables counties to change the dates of their biennial budgets.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as amended by the House. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“Upon an affirmative vote of a majority of county voters, a county may move the biennial budget to the off year of the state election.”
RSA 32:27
“Putting the question on the ballot shall require a vote in the affirmative by a majority of the county commissioners.”
RSA 32:27
“The question shall be put to the voters at the November state election and shall read as follows:”
RSA 32:27

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Timothy LangRPrimeVice Chair· Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Public testimony

1 signed in online

100% support0% oppose0% neutral

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Feb 19, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Feb 19, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • May 5, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1797h (NT)11–9
    Overall
    55% yea
  • May 14, 2026HouseRoll callAmendment 2026-1797hAdopted164–145How they voted
    Overall
    53% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    164–199% yea
    Democrats
    0–1440% yea
  • May 14, 2026HouseRoll callOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1797hAdopted167–146How they voted
    Overall
    53% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    167–199% yea
    Democrats
    0–1450% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 21, 2026SenateVoice voteSen. Gray Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendmentadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 10, 2026Public hearingSenate Election Law and Municipal Affairs21:25–25:103m 45slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Feb 19, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 7, 2026Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government2:16:24–2:18:111m 47slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • May 5, 2026Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government1:59:31–2:12:4813m 17slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1797h (NT) — roll call; Executive Session
  • May 14, 2026Floor debateHouse floor7:39:04–7:47:318m 27slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1797h — adopted, roll call 167-146; Amendment # 2026-1797h (NT) — adopted, roll call 164-145
  • May 21, 2026Floor debateSenate floor1:13:50–1:15:021m 12slocated in the stream transcriptSen. Gray Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment — adopted, voice vote

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 29, 2026SenIntroduced 01/29/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 3
  2. Feb 10, 2026SenHearing: 02/10/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 09:15 am; SC 5
  3. Feb 19, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass, 02/19/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 6
  4. Feb 19, 2026SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 02/19/2026; SJ 4
  5. Feb 19, 2026HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 02/19/2026 and referred to Municipal and County Government HJ 5 P. 127
  6. Apr 7, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 04/07/2026 11:20 am GP 154
  7. May 5, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 05/05/2026 10:30 am GP 154
  8. May 5, 2026HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1797h (NT) 05/05/2026 (Vote 11-9; RC) HC 19 P. 28
  9. May 6, 2026HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  10. May 14, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-1797h (NT): AA RC 164-145 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 120
  11. May 14, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1797h: MA RC 167-146 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 124
  12. May 21, 2026SenSen. Gray Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 05/21/2026; SJ 13

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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