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HB 1131 · 2026 · House · Municipal and County Government Committee

Ballot referendum question placement rules

AI-generated

relative to the official ballot referendum form of town meetings.

Requires that a question proposing to adopt the official ballot referendum form of town meeting be placed first on the annual meeting warrant, and adjusts related bond-article voting procedures.AI-generated

Status

Recommended for passage but never voted; died at adjournment · May 5, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill requires that questions proposing to adopt an official ballot referendum form of meeting be placed first on annual meeting warrants.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“The local political subdivision shall place the question on the warrant of the annual meeting under the procedures set out in RSA 39:3 or RSA 197:6.”
Section 1
“Polls shall remain open and ballots shall be accepted by the moderator on each such article, for a period of not less than one hour following the completion of discussion on each respective article.”
Section 2
“Voting on the question shall be by ballot, but the question shall not be placed on the official ballot used to elect officers.”
Section 1
“Polls shall remain open and ballots shall be accepted by the moderator for a period of not less than one hour following the completion of discussion on the question.”
Section 1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Diane PauerRPrimeChair· Municipal and County Government
  • Rep. JD BernardyRClerk· Science, Technology and Energy
  • Rep. Juliet Harvey-BoliaRDeputy Majority Floor Leader
  • Rep. James QualeyRVice Chair· Election Law
  • Sen. Bill GannonRChair· Judiciary
  • Sen. Daniel InnisRChair, Majority Policy Conference
  • Sen. Kevin AvardRDeputy Majority Whip

Also: Rep. Deborah AylwardR, Rep. Richard BrownR, Rep. Jose CambrilsR, Rep. Jim KofaltR, Rep. Paul TerryR, Rep. John SellersR, Sen. Tim McGoughR

Public testimony

120 signed in online · 67 wrote testimony

97% support3% oppose0% neutral

ForBallot voting is more accessible than in-person meetings

AgainstBallot voting removes local debate and should be town-initiated

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Please support HB1131 so voters can have their wishes heard via the SB2 system which greatly increases participation in town and school meetings by having all warrant articles voted on by ballot any time on town election day or by absentee ballot.”
— Carrie Webber, Brooklinesupports
“Moving SB2 to a ballot restores the intent of the original legislation. SB2 has become a political football issue that erodes good governance and decision making, thanks in part to the 2019 change to move it to a warrant article decision.…”
— Susan Homola, Hollissupports
“Please adopt this bill. It will allow a broader representation to vote for those of us who may not be able to attend an evening vote. Thank you for your consideration.”
— Charles Wingate, Jr. MD, Hollissupports
“SB2 effectively eliminates debate and discussion. I am not in favor of the option being brought to the ballot without local input. Let each town bring it forward if the voters decide to call the question not the state.”
— Suzanne Carmichael, Contoocookopposes

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 17, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass10–7
    Overall
    59% yea
  • Mar 12, 2026HouseDivisionOught to PassAdopted181–159
    Overall
    53% yea
  • May 7, 2026SenateCommittee reportCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1595s5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 7, 2026SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2026-1595sadopted
  • May 7, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1595sadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • May 21, 2026HouseVoice voteHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1595s (Rep. Pauer)adopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 23, 2026Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government7:04:09–7:08:524m 43slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 17, 2026Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government5:53:14–5:55:202m 6slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 12, 2026Floor debateHouse floor1:41:49–1:46:014m 12slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass — adopted, division 181-159
  • Mar 31, 2026Public hearingSenate Election Law and Municipal Affairs4:21:16–4:22:281m 12slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 7, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1595s; Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1595s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-1595s — adopted, voice vote
  • May 21, 2026Floor debateHouse floor3:48:27–3:49:351m 8slocated in the stream transcriptHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1595s (Rep. Pauer) — 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 Municipal and County Government HJ 1 P. 7
  2. Jan 23, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/23/2026 02:00 pm GP 154
  3. Feb 17, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/17/2026 09:00 am GP 154
  4. Feb 17, 2026HouseMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass 02/17/2026 (Vote 10-7; RC) HC 10 P. 63
  5. Feb 27, 2026HouseMinority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Mar 12, 2026HouseOught to Pass: MA DV 181-159 03/12/2026 HJ 8 P. 29
  7. Mar 12, 2026SenIntroduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 7
  8. Mar 31, 2026SenHearing: 03/31/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 01:00 pm; SC 12
  9. May 7, 2026SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1595s, 05/07/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 17
  10. May 7, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1595s, AA, VV; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
  11. May 7, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1595s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
  12. May 21, 2026HouseHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1595s (Rep. Pauer): MA VV 05/21/2026 HJ 14 P. 21

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Background reading

Evergreen reading on the policy area — spanning perspectives — not coverage of this specific bill.

Documents (PDF)

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