Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
← All bills

HB 1526 · 2026 · House · Municipal and County Government Committee

Adopting municipal budget committees

AI-generated

relative to the adopting of a municipal budget committee and electing members thereof.

Modifies the procedure for adopting, rescinding, and electing a municipal budget committee and revises the time frame for appointing initial members of a cooperative school district budget committee.AI-generated

Status

Referred to interim study (Senate) · April 14, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill: I. Modifies the procedure for adopting, rescinding, and electing a municipal budget committee. II. Modifies the time frame for the appointment of initial members of a cooperative school district budget committee.

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

“Voting shall be by official ballot unless the town has not adopted the official ballot, in which case the clerk shall cause the same question to be printed upon special ballots, which shall be used to determine the vote of the town at the annual meeting, and ballots shall be accepted by the moderator for a period of not less than one hour following the completion of discussion on the question.”
Section 1
“A town or district which has adopted this subdivision may rescind its adoption in the manner described in paragraphs II and III, except that the wording of the question shall be:”
Section 2
“Otherwise, if the meeting decides members-at-large are to be elected, the meeting shall either elect the initial members for one-year terms by means other than by official ballot, or shall authorize the moderator to appoint members to serve until the next annual meeting, as provided in RSA 669:17.”
Section 3
“A cooperative school district at an annual meeting, under a proper article in the warrant, may vote to establish a budget committee pursuant to RSA 32:14 and may rescind such action in a like manner.”
Section 4

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Robert WherryRPrimeChair· Special Committee on COVID Response Efficacy
  • Rep. Diane PauerRChair· Municipal and County Government
  • Rep. Claudine BurnhamRClerk· Election Law
  • Rep. Lisa FreemanRAssistant Majority Whip
  • Rep. Tom MannionRAssistant Majority Whip

Also: Rep. Clayton WoodR, Rep. John SellersR, Rep. Mary MurphyR, Rep. Susan DeRoyR

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 17, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0694h10–7
    Overall
    59% yea
  • Mar 12, 2026HouseDivisionAmendment 2026-0694hAdopted186–153
    Overall
    55% yea
  • Mar 12, 2026HouseDivisionOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0694hAdopted187–158
    Overall
    54% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • Apr 23, 2026SenateCommittee report: Referred to Interim Study5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Apr 23, 2026SenateVoice voteRefer to Interim Studyadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 30, 2026Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government6:35:12–6:37:252m 13slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 17, 2026Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government4:59:11–5:03:264m 15slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0694h — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 12, 2026Floor debateHouse floor2:35:25–2:43:177m 52slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0694h — adopted, division 187-158; Amendment # 2026-0694h — adopted, division 186-153
  • Apr 14, 2026Public hearingSenate Election Law and Municipal Affairs52:43–55:082m 25slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Apr 23, 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. 24
  2. Jan 30, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/30/2026 10:30 am GP 154
  3. Feb 17, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/17/2026 09:00 am GP 154
  4. Feb 17, 2026HouseMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0694h 02/17/2026 (Vote 10-7; RC) HC 10 P. 69
  5. Feb 27, 2026HouseMinority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Mar 12, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0694h: AA DV 186-153 03/12/2026 HJ 8 P. 46
  7. Mar 12, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0694h: MA DV 187-158 03/12/2026 HJ 8 P. 47
  8. Mar 12, 2026SenIntroduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 7
  9. Apr 14, 2026SenHearing: 04/14/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 10:00 am; SC 14
  10. Apr 23, 2026Sen: Referred to Interim Study, 04/23/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 15
  11. Apr 23, 2026SenRefer to Interim Study, MA, VV; 04/23/2026; SJ 10

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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