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HB 158 · 2026 · House · Election Law Committee

Biennial review of absentee ballot data

AI-generated

(New Title) requiring the secretary of state to review absentee ballot data biennially, forward certain requests to the election law unit for review, and make a report to the general court.

Requires the secretary of state to review absentee ballot data biennially, forward certain requests to the election law unit for review, and report to the general court.AI-generated

Status

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

Analysis

This bill requires the secretary of state to review absentee ballot data biennially, forward certain requests to the election law unit for review, and make a report to the general court.

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 secretary of state shall review absentee ballot data after each general election to identify absentee ballot requests that should be forwarded to the department of justice, election law unit for an investigative review.”
Section 281:1
“The secretary shall provide the committees of jurisdiction a report of the number and category of requests forwarded for investigative review.”
Section 281:1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Gregory HillRPrimeChair· Legislative Administration
  • Rep. JD BernardyRClerk· Science, Technology and Energy
  • Rep. Joe SweeneyRDeputy Majority Leader
  • Rep. Ross BerryRChair· Election Law
  • Rep. Thomas WalshRChair· Transportation
  • Rep. Vanessa SheehanRVice Chair· Legislative Administration
  • Sen. Howard PearlRChair· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Sen. Kevin AvardRDeputy Majority Whip
  • Sen. Mark McConkeyRChair· Capital Budget

Also: Rep. Kevin VervilleR, Rep. Stephen BoydR

Public testimony

No one submitted online testimony on this bill. See the record

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Sep 16, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendarCommittee report: Ought to Pass10–7
    Overall
    59% yea
  • Jan 7, 2026HouseDivisionOught to PassAdopted179–157
    Overall
    53% yea
  • Mar 26, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1214s5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 26, 2026SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2026-1214sadopted
  • Mar 26, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-1214sadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • Apr 23, 2026HouseVoice voteHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1214s and Requests CofC (Rep. Berry)adopted
    Resulting text: Bill as adopted by both chambers
  • May 7, 2026SenateVoice voteSen. Gray Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conferenceadopted
  • Jun 4, 2026SenateVoice voteConference committee report 2026-2100cadopted
  • Jun 4, 2026SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 4, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law1:49:29–1:52:513m 22slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 11, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law1:59:43–2:00:0724slocated in the stream transcript==RECESSED== Executive Session
  • Feb 18, 2025Public hearingHouse Election LawWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full stream==RECESSED== Executive Session
  • Mar 4, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law3:33:26–3:34:0539slocated in the stream transcript==CONTINUED== Executive Session
  • Mar 11, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law1:32:56–1:35:332m 37slocated in the stream transcriptExecutive Session
  • Sep 16, 2025Public hearingHouse Election Law43:52–46:352m 43slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass — roll call; Executive Session
  • Jan 7, 2026Floor debateHouse floor6:35:07–6:43:188m 11slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass — adopted, division 179-157
  • Feb 17, 2026Public hearingSenate Election Law and Municipal Affairs16:38–17:461m 8slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Mar 26, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1214s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1214s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-1214s — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 23, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1214s and Requests CofC (Rep. Berry) — adopted, voice vote; Speaker Appoints: Reps. Berry, Qualey, Burnham, Wood
  • May 7, 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, Long; (In Recess
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamConference Committee Report Filed, # 2026-2100c; Conference Committee Report # 2026-2100c, Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled Adopted — voice vote
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamConference Committee Report 2026-2100c: Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled (in recess)

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 8, 2025HouseIntroduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Election Law HJ 2 P. 8
  2. Feb 4, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/04/2025 11:00 am LOB 306-308
  3. Feb 11, 2025House==RECESSED== Executive Session: 02/11/2025 10:10 am LOB 306-308
  4. Feb 18, 2025House==RECESSED== Executive Session: 02/18/2025 10:10 am LOB 306-308
  5. Mar 4, 2025House==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 03/04/2025 01:00 pm LOB 306-308
  6. Mar 11, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/11/2025 09:00 am LOB 306-308
  7. Mar 12, 2025HouseRetained in Committee
  8. Sep 16, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 09/16/2025 10:15 am GP 158
  9. Sep 16, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass 09/16/2025 (Vote 10-7; RC) HC 51 P. 30
  10. Nov 14, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  11. Jan 7, 2026HouseOught to Pass: MA DV 179-157 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 157
  12. Jan 29, 2026SenIntroduced 01/29/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 3
  13. Feb 17, 2026SenHearing: 02/17/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 09:15 am; SC 6
  14. Mar 26, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1214s, 03/26/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 11
  15. Mar 26, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1214s, AA, VV; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
  16. Mar 26, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-1214s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
  17. Apr 23, 2026HouseHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1214s and Requests CofC (Rep. Berry): MA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 83
  18. Apr 23, 2026HouseSpeaker Appoints: Reps. Berry, Qualey, Burnham, Wood 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 83
  19. May 7, 2026SenSen. Gray Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; (In recess 05/07/2026); SJ 12
  20. May 7, 2026SenPresident Appoints: Senators Gray, Lang, Long; (In Recess 05/07/2026); SJ 12
  21. May 27, 2026HouseConference Committee Meeting: 05/27/2026 09:00 am GP 228
  22. Jun 4, 2026SenConference Committee Report Filed, # 2026-2100c; 06/04/2026
  23. Jun 4, 2026SenConference Committee Report # 2026-2100c, Adopted, VV; 06/04/2026; SJ 14
  24. Jun 4, 2026HouseConference Committee Report 2026-2100c: Adopted, VV 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  25. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 15
  26. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026
  27. Jul 10, 2026HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 07/10/2026; Chapter 281; eff. 7/10/2026

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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