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HB 1187 · 2026 · House · Election Law Committee

Special election candidacy filing deadline

AI-generated

relative to the time in which candidates for state representative may file their candidacy for a special election.

Allows candidates for state representative in a special election to file their candidacy for three days with their town or city clerk.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · July 16, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill allows candidates for state representative in a special election to file for 3 days with their town or city clerk.

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

“Under RSA 655:15, state representative candidates may file with the secretary of state, except that a state representative candidate may file with his or her appropriate town or city clerk under RSA 655:15, in which case the town or city clerk shall forward each declaration of candidate to the secretary of state on the same day on which the declaration is filed.”
Section 293:1
“During the week of filing, if the town or city clerk's office shall not be open for at least 3 days and for at least 2 hours on those days, the clerk shall post contact information for the clerk, deputy clerk, or another election official who the clerk has authorized to accept the declaration of candidacy.”
Section 293:1
“The clerk, deputy clerk, or other election official whose contact information is posted shall, in response to being contacted, arrange a time either on that day or within the next business day, during regular business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., to accept the declaration of candidacy.”
Section 293:1
“The dates and times town and city clerks' offices are open for filing during the filing period and any additional contact information shall be listed on the secretary of state's website; and”
Section 293:1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Ross BerryRPrimeChair· Election Law
  • Rep. James QualeyRVice Chair· Election Law

Public testimony

2 signed in online

50% support50% oppose0% neutral

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Feb 3, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendarCommittee report: Ought to Pass16–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 5, 2026HouseVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • May 7, 2026SenateCommittee reportCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1596s5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 7, 2026SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2026-1596sadopted
  • May 7, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1596sadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • May 14, 2026HouseVoice voteHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1596s and Requests CofC (Rep. Berry)adopted
    Resulting text: Bill as adopted by both chambers
  • May 14, 2026SenateVoice voteSen. Gray Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conferenceadopted
  • Jun 4, 2026SenateVoice voteConference committee report 2026-2096cadopted
  • Jun 4, 2026SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 3, 2026Public hearingHouse Election Law5:05:40–5:09:373m 57slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Public Hearing
  • Mar 5, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Mar 31, 2026Public hearingSenate Election Law and Municipal Affairs4:53:08–4:54:151m 7slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 7, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1596s; Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1596s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-1596s — adopted, voice vote
  • May 14, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamSen. Gray Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference — adopted, voice vote; President Appoints: Senators Gray, Lang, Perkins Kwoka; (In Recess
  • May 14, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1596s and Requests CofC (Rep. Berry) — adopted, voice vote; Speaker Appoints: Reps. Berry, Qualey, Lane, Muirhead
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamConference Committee Report Filed, # 2026-2096c; Conference Committee Report # 2026-2096c, Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled Adopted — voice vote
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamConference Committee Report 2026-2096c: Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled (in recess)

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 Election Law HJ 1 P. 9
  2. Feb 3, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/03/2026 01:20 pm GP 158
  3. Feb 10, 2026House==RECESSED== Executive Session: 02/10/2026 11:00 am GP 158
  4. Feb 17, 2026House==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 02/17/2026 01:40 pm GP 158
  5. Feb 3, 2026HouseCommittee Report: Ought to Pass 02/03/2026 (Vote 16-0; CC) HC 9 P. 13
  6. Mar 5, 2026HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 14
  7. Mar 5, 2026SenIntroduced 03/05/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 6
  8. Mar 31, 2026SenHearing: 03/31/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 01:15 pm; SC 12
  9. May 7, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1596s, 05/07/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 17
  10. May 7, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1596s, AA, VV; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
  11. May 7, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1596s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
  12. May 14, 2026HouseHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1596s and Requests CofC (Rep. Berry): MA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 151
  13. May 14, 2026HouseSpeaker Appoints: Reps. Berry, Qualey, Lane, Muirhead 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 151
  14. May 14, 2026SenSen. Gray Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; (In recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
  15. May 14, 2026SenPresident Appoints: Senators Gray, Lang, Perkins Kwoka; (In Recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
  16. May 27, 2026HouseConference Committee Meeting: 05/27/2026 09:50 am GP 228
  17. May 27, 2026HouseConferee Change: Rep. Newsom Replaces Rep. Muirhead 05/27/2026 HJ 14 P. 35
  18. Jun 4, 2026SenConference Committee Report Filed, # 2026-2096c; 06/04/2026
  19. Jun 4, 2026SenConference Committee Report # 2026-2096c, Adopted, VV; 06/04/2026; SJ 14
  20. Jun 4, 2026HouseConference Committee Report 2026-2096c: Adopted, VV 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  21. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 15
  22. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026
  23. Jul 10, 2026HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 07/10/2026; Chapter 293; eff. 9/8/2026

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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