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HB 1260 · 2026 · House · Judiciary Committee

Marriage registration and delayed certificates

AI-generated

relative to marriage registration forms and delayed certificates of marriage.

Permits marriage applicants to complete applications in advance, establishes a fee for filing delayed marriage certificates, and updates related statutory language to be gender neutral.AI-generated

Status

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

Analysis

This bill permits marriage applicants to complete the marriage application in advance, establishes a fee for filing a delayed marriage certificate, and updates all relevant statutory language in the chapter to be gender neutral.

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

“The marriage application worksheet, which shall be the form that is used to record marriage intentions, shall be completed by the prospective [bride and groom]marriage applicants and the clerk of the town or city and shall contain the information needed to complete the marriage license.”
RSA 5-C:41
“After the clerk of a town or city has forwarded the completed marriage license to the division, the registrar shall give the original to the prospective [bride and groom] marriage applicants.”
RSA 5-C:43
“The registration of a marriage after 6 months from the actual date of the marriage shall be accomplished using a regular certificate of marriage, completed in accordance with RSA 5-C:42.”
RSA 5-C:52
“The following information shall be provided on an application for certified copy of marriage record, before a certified copy is issued:”
RSA 5-C:57

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Paul DargieDPrime
  • Rep. Peter PetrignoDRanking Member· Children and Family Law

Public testimony

3 signed in online · 2 wrote testimony

100% support0% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I am writing to support this bill. It will help simplify the marriage license application process and make it easier for both applicants and clerks.”
— Ken Story, Granthamsupports

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

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 11, 2026Public hearingHouse Judiciary53:32–54:441m 12slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 13, 2026Public hearingHouse JudiciaryWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0693h; Executive Session
  • Mar 5, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0693h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2026-0693h — adopted, voice vote
  • Mar 24, 2026Public hearingSenate Judiciary9:16–11:041m 48slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Apr 9, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1312s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1312s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-1312s — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 23, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1312s and Requests CofC (Rep. Lynn) — adopted, voice vote; Speaker Appoints: Reps. Lynn, Berch, Kuttab, Manos
  • May 7, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamSen. Gannon Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference — adopted, voice vote; President Appoints: Senators Gannon, Abbas, Reardon; (In Recess
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamConference Committee Report Filed, # 2026-2057c; Conference Committee Report # 2026-2057c, Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2172e Adopted — voice vote
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamConference Committee Report 2026-2057c: Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2172e — 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 Judiciary HJ 1 P. 12
  2. Feb 11, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/11/2026 10:30 am GP 230
  3. Feb 13, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/13/2026 10:00 am GP 158
  4. Feb 13, 2026HouseCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0693h 02/13/2026 (Vote 17-1; CC) HC 9 P. 18
  5. Mar 5, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0693h: AA VV 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 21
  6. Mar 5, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0693h: MA VV 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 21
  7. Mar 5, 2026SenIntroduced 03/05/2026 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 6
  8. Mar 24, 2026SenHearing: 03/24/2026, Room 100, SH, 01:00 pm; SC 11
  9. Mar 24, 2026SenHearing: 03/24/2026, Room 100, LOB, 01:05 pm, on proposed non-germane amendment # 2026-1173s; SC 11
  10. Apr 9, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1312s, 04/09/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 13
  11. Apr 9, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1312s, AA, VV; 04/09/2026; SJ 8
  12. Apr 9, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-1312s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/09/2026; SJ 8
  13. Apr 23, 2026HouseHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1312s and Requests CofC (Rep. Lynn): MA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 84
  14. Apr 23, 2026HouseSpeaker Appoints: Reps. Lynn, Berch, Kuttab, Manos 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 84
  15. May 7, 2026SenSen. Gannon Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; (In recess 05/07/2026); SJ 12
  16. May 7, 2026SenPresident Appoints: Senators Gannon, Abbas, Reardon; (In Recess 05/07/2026); SJ 12
  17. May 26, 2026HouseConference Committee Meeting: 05/26/2026 10:00 am GP 234
  18. Jun 4, 2026SenConference Committee Report Filed, # 2026-2057c; 06/04/2026
  19. Jun 4, 2026SenConference Committee Report # 2026-2057c, Adopted, VV; 06/04/2026; SJ 14
  20. Jun 4, 2026HouseConference Committee Report 2026-2057c: Adopted, VV 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  21. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2172e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  22. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2172e: AA VV 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  23. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 15
  24. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026
  25. Jul 10, 2026HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 07/10/2026; Chapter 296; 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.