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HB 1355 · 2026 · House · Municipal and County Government Committee

Default budget elimination for towns

AI-generated

relative to eliminating the default budget from the official ballot referenda.

Eliminates the inclusion of a default budget on official ballot referenda for towns using that meeting format and changes the procedure that applies if the operating budget warrant article fails.AI-generated

Status

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

Analysis

This bill eliminates the inclusion of a default budget in an operating budget warrant article for towns that use the official ballot referenda form of meeting. This bill further changes the procedures for what occurs should the operating budget warrant article fail.

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

“The first session of the meeting, governed by the provisions of RSA 40:4, 40:4-a, 40:4-b, 40:4-f, and 40:6-40:10, shall consist of explanation, discussion, and debate of each warrant article, including warrant articles pertaining to the operating budget [and the default budget].”
Section 1
“"Operating budget" as used in this subdivision means "budget," as defined in RSA 32:3, III, exclusive of "special warrant articles," as defined in RSA 32:3, VI, and exclusive of other appropriations voted separately.”
Section 2
“The warrant for any special meeting shall prescribe the date, place and hour for both a first and second session.”
Section 3
“For each year after the first year, the amount designated for that year as provided in paragraph II shall be deemed appropriated without further vote by the legislative body, unless the appropriation is rescinded as provided in paragraph VI.”
Section 4

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Kristin NobleRPrimeChair· Education Policy and Administration
  • Rep. Keith AmmonRMajority Floor Leader
  • Rep. Ross BerryRChair· Election Law
  • Rep. Mike DragoRMajority Whip
  • Rep. Brian LabrieRClerk· Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services
  • Rep. Erica LayonRChair· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Rep. Tom MannionRAssistant Majority Whip
  • Rep. Diane PauerRChair· Municipal and County Government

Also: Rep. Cyril AuresR

Public testimony

144 signed in online · 28 wrote testimony

1% support99% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“This is another attempt to defund public services and public education. Our children lose out, and so does the community when schools are underfunded.”
— Kim Paynter, Eppingopposes
“I oppose this bill as a parent of a child who attends public schools and a teacher in a public school. By eliminating the default budget as a backup in the case that a proposed budget fails at an annual school district meeting would be disastrous.…”
— Sarah Graham, Rindgeopposes
“Here is yet another attempt to cut public services by eliminating the default budget and cut public school services. This is just another attempt to defund public services and public education- all of the things that make America actually great.”
— Sierra Dolce, Sandownopposes

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
  • Mar 3, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0695h10–8
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Mar 12, 2026HouseVoice voteAmendment 2026-0695hadopted
  • Mar 12, 2026HouseDivisionOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0695hAdopted176–160
    Overall
    52% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 7, 2026SenateCommittee report: Referred to Interim Study4–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 7, 2026SenateVoice voteRefer to Interim Studyadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 23, 2026Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government4:57:20–5:01:143m 54slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 17, 2026Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government6:49:38–6:50:431m 5slocated in the stream transcript==RECESSED== Executive Session
  • Mar 3, 2026Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government1:19:18–1:23:143m 56slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0695h — roll call; ==CONTINUED== Executive Session
  • Mar 12, 2026Floor debateHouse floor2:28:33–2:33:395m 6slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0695h — adopted, division 176-160; Amendment # 2026-0695h — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 28, 2026Public hearingSenate Election Law and Municipal Affairs1:55:54–2:01:596m 5slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 7, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Referred to Interim Study; Refer to Interim Study — 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. 16
  2. Jan 23, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/23/2026 11:15 am GP 154
  3. Feb 17, 2026House==RECESSED== Executive Session: 02/17/2026 09:00 am GP 154
  4. Mar 3, 2026House==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 03/03/2026 10:30 am GP 154
  5. Mar 3, 2026HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0695h 03/03/2026 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 10 P. 68
  6. Mar 4, 2026HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  7. Mar 12, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0695h: AA VV 03/12/2026 HJ 8 P. 42
  8. Mar 12, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0695h: MA DV 176-160 03/12/2026 HJ 8 P. 42
  9. Mar 12, 2026SenIntroduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 7
  10. Apr 28, 2026SenHearing: 04/28/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 10:15 am; SC 16
  11. May 7, 2026Sen: Referred to Interim Study, 05/07/2026; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 17
  12. May 7, 2026SenRefer to Interim Study, MA, VV; 05/07/2026; SJ 11

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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