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HB 1575 · 2026 · House · Municipal and County Government Committee

Budget committee sets default budget

AI-generated

relative to the determination of the default budget by the budget committee.

Assigns responsibility for determining the default budget to the budget committee in political subdivisions that use official ballot referenda and have adopted a municipal budget committee.AI-generated

Status

Became law without signature · June 22, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill makes the budget committee responsible for the determination of the default budget in any local political subdivision that has adopted the official ballot referenda form of meeting pursuant to RSA 40:14 and has also adopted a municipal budget committee pursuant to RSA 32:14.

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 a local political subdivision that has adopted the official ballot referenda form of meeting pursuant to RSA 40:14 and has also adopted a municipal budget committee pursuant to RSA 32:14, the determination of the default budget shall be by the budget committee instead of the governing body. 149:2 Duties and Authority of the Budget Committee.”
RSA 40:14-b
“For the purposes of this paragraph, one-time expenditures shall be appropriations not likely to recur in the succeeding budget, and eliminated positions shall not include vacant positions under recruitment or positions redefined in the proposed operating budget, as determined by the governing body, unless the provisions of RSA 40:14-b [are adopted] apply, of the local political subdivision.”
RSA 40:14-b
“In calculating the default budget amount, the governing body shall follow the statutory formula which may result in a higher or lower amount than the proposed operating budget. 149:4 Use of Official Ballot;”
RSA 40:14-b
“The default budget shall be disclosed and presented for questions and discussion at the first budget hearing held pursuant to RSA 32:5 or RSA 197:6.”
RSA 40:14-b

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Ralph BoehmRPrime
  • Rep. Kimberly RiceRVice Chair· Children and Family Law

Also: Rep. Richard LascellesR

Public testimony

16 signed in online · 2 wrote testimony

6% support94% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Another winner! Transparency is honesty. Any budget subterfuge or hidden agenda should be clear.”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuasupports

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
  • Feb 17, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0294h9–7
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Mar 12, 2026HouseVoice voteAmendment 2026-0294hadopted
  • Mar 12, 2026HouseDivisionOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0294hAdopted183–163
    Overall
    53% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • Apr 23, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Apr 23, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • May 21, 2026SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 23, 2026Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government3:15:24–3:16:331m 9slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 17, 2026Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government7:08:05–7:16:288m 23slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0294h — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 12, 2026Floor debateHouse floor2:43:05–2:47:404m 35slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0294h — adopted, division 183-163; Amendment # 2026-0294h — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 14, 2026Public hearingSenate Election Law and Municipal Affairs1:23:11–1:24:281m 17slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Apr 23, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • May 21, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled 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. 26
  2. Jan 23, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/23/2026 10:45 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 # 2026-0294h 02/17/2026 (Vote 9-7; RC) HC 10 P. 70
  5. Feb 27, 2026HouseMinority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Mar 12, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0294h: AA VV 03/12/2026 HJ 8 P. 47
  7. Mar 12, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0294h: MA DV 183-163 03/12/2026 HJ 8 P. 48
  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, 10:15 am; SC 14
  10. Apr 23, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass, 04/23/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 15
  11. Apr 23, 2026SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/23/2026; SJ 10
  12. May 21, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/21/2026); SJ 14
  13. May 21, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 05/21/2026 HJ 14 P. 34
  14. Jun 13, 2026HouseLaw Without Signature 06/13/2026; Chapter 149; eff. 08/11/2026

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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