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HB 1134 · 2026 · House · Municipal and County Government Committee

Town meeting budget override rules

AI-generated

relative to the town meeting form of local governance.

Determines the order in which total appropriations in warrant articles accumulate for purposes of triggering an override vote of a local tax or budget cap.AI-generated

Status

Referred to interim study (Senate) · April 3, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill determines the order in which total appropriations in warrant articles accumulate for purposes of determining when a warrant article will trigger an override vote of a local tax or budget cap.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Diane PauerRPrimeChair· Municipal and County Government
  • Rep. Lex BerezhnyRAssistant Majority Leader
  • Rep. Keith AmmonRMajority Floor Leader
  • Rep. Juliet Harvey-BoliaRDeputy Majority Floor Leader
  • Sen. Kevin AvardRDeputy Majority Whip
  • Sen. Keith MurphyRDeputy President Pro Tempore

Also: Rep. Susan DeRoyR, Rep. Keith ErfR, Rep. Michael GrangerR, Rep. Melissa LitchfieldR, Rep. Rich NalevankoR, Rep. Richard LascellesR

Public testimony

22 signed in online · 5 wrote testimony

23% support77% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“This bill provides clarity with regard to the treatment of warrant articles in relation to local tax caps, and I strongly support OTP.”
— Rich Nalevanko, Alsteadsupports
“Excellent! NH needs this at the state-level. This performance-based engineering of budget priorities was used by republicans in Nashua in mid-2000s and it worked. There were cries of doom and "cutting to the bone" from the typical bloodsuckers.…”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuasupports
“Republicans sponsoring this bill are shortsighted and do not have our best interests at heart.”
— Donna Tully, Littletonopposes
“I am very opposed to HB 1134 as I cannot see what, if any, particular solution or goal this bill will serve.…”
— Andrew Harmon, New Hamptonopposes

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings

  • 2026-01-239:00 amHouse Municipal and County GovernmentGP 154Public hearing
  • 2026-03-181:00 pmSenate Election Law and Municipal AffairsSH 103Public hearing

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 09:35 am GP 154
  3. Feb 3, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/03/2026 11:15 am GP 153
  4. Feb 3, 2026HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0204h 02/03/2026 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 9 P. 43
  5. Feb 10, 2026HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Mar 5, 2026HouseLay HB1134 on Table (Rep. Maggiore): MA DV 154-167 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 125
  7. Mar 5, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0204h: AA VV 03/05/2026 HJ 6
  8. Mar 5, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0204h: MA DV 168-156 03/05/2026 HJ 6
  9. Mar 5, 2026SenIntroduced 03/05/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 6
  10. Mar 18, 2026SenHearing: 03/18/2026, Room 103, SH, 01:00 pm; SC 10
  11. Apr 9, 2026Sen: Referred to Interim Study, 04/09/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 13
  12. Apr 9, 2026SenRefer to Interim Study, MA, VV; 04/09/2026; SJ 8

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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