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HB 1381 · 2026 · House · Election Law Committee

Extending candidate filing period

AI-generated

extending the time of the party filing period.

Clarifies procedures for a party committee chairperson to designate a replacement candidate when no declaration is filed for a primary nomination and requires the designee to file a declaration of candidacy within 10 business days after the filing period closes.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · June 22, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill: I. Clarifies that in case no declaration is filed by a candidate for any nomination to be voted for at a primary, the chairperson of the appropriate party committee or their designee shall notify the secretary of state in writing of a person they designate to fill the vacancy. II. Requires that a person designated to fill such a vacancy file a declaration of candidacy with the secretary of state within 10 business days following the close of the candidate filing period.

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

“In case no declaration shall be filed by a candidate for any nomination to be voted for at a primary, the nomination may be made by the appropriate party committee as provided in this section.”
Section 129:1
“The chairperson of the appropriate party committee or their designee shall notify the secretary of state in writing of a person it designates to fill the vacancy.”
Section 129:2
“The person so designated may accept the nomination by[, on or before the Wednesday following the expiration of the period for filing declarations of candidacy as provided in RSA 655:14,] filing with the secretary of state a declaration of candidacy as provided in RSA 655:17 within 10 business days following the close of the candidate filing period established by RSA 655:14.”
Section 129:1
“Any candidate accepting a nomination under this paragraph who has already filed for an incompatible office as defined in RSA 655:10 shall withdraw the prior filing.”
Section 129:1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Matthew WilhelmDPrimeDemocratic Caucus Chair
  • Rep. Ross BerryRChair· Election Law

Public testimony

4 signed in online

100% support0% oppose0% neutral

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Feb 10, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass14–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 5, 2026HouseVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • Apr 16, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1325s4–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Apr 16, 2026SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2026-1325sadopted
  • Apr 16, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1325sadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • Apr 23, 2026HouseVoice voteHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1325s (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 2026-2093cadopted
  • Jun 4, 2026SenateVoice voteEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2143eadopted
  • Jun 4, 2026SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 3, 2026Public hearingHouse Election Law2:21:38–2:27:295m 51slocated in the stream transcriptPublic 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 Affairs5:20:40–5:21:491m 9slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Apr 16, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1325s; Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1325s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-1325s — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 23, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1325s (Rep. Berry) — adopted, voice vote; Speaker Appoints: Reps. Berry, Qualey, Lane, Wilhelm
  • 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
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamConference Committee Report Filed, # 2026-2093c; Conference Committee Report # 2026-2093c, Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2143e Adopted — voice vote
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamConference Committee Report 2026-2093c: Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2143e — 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. 18
  2. Feb 3, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/03/2026 11:20 am GP 158
  3. Feb 10, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/10/2026 11:00 am GP 158
  4. Feb 10, 2026HouseCommittee Report: Ought to Pass 02/10/2026 (Vote 14-0; CC) HC 9 P. 14
  5. Mar 5, 2026HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 15
  6. Mar 5, 2026SenIntroduced 03/05/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 6
  7. Mar 31, 2026SenHearing: 03/31/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 02:00 pm; SC 12
  8. Apr 16, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1325s, 04/16/2026; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 14
  9. Apr 16, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1325s, AA, VV; 04/16/2026; SJ 9
  10. Apr 16, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1325s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/16/2026; SJ 9
  11. Apr 23, 2026HouseHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1325s (Rep. Berry): MA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 84
  12. Apr 23, 2026HouseSpeaker Appoints: Reps. Berry, Qualey, Lane, Wilhelm 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 84
  13. May 14, 2026SenSen. Gray Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; (In recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
  14. May 14, 2026SenPresident Appoints: Senators Gray, Lang, Perkins Kwoka; (In Recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
  15. May 27, 2026HouseConference Committee Meeting: 05/27/2026 10:30 am GP 228
  16. Jun 4, 2026SenConference Committee Report Filed, # 2026-2093c; 06/04/2026
  17. Jun 4, 2026SenConference Committee Report # 2026-2093c, Adopted, VV; 06/04/2026; SJ 14
  18. Jun 4, 2026HouseConference Committee Report 2026-2093c: Adopted, VV 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  19. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2143e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  20. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2143e: AA VV 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  21. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  22. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  23. Jun 11, 2026HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 06/11/2026; Chapter 129; eff. I. Sec 2 eff 1/1/28 II. Rem eff 6/11/26

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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