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HB 1689 · 2026 · House · Municipal and County Government Committee

Longer terms for county officers

AI-generated

(New Title) relative to the term of office for county officers in Belknap and Merrimack counties.

Extends the term of office for certain elected county officers in Belknap and Merrimack counties to four years and requires Merrimack county officer elections to coincide with the presidential election cycle.AI-generated

Status

Recommended for passage but never voted; died at adjournment · March 23, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill extends the term of office for certain elected county officers in Belknap and Merrimack counties to 4 years. The bill also requires that the elections for such Merrimack county officers coincide with the presidential election every 4 years.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as amended by the Senate. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“If the county attorney is absent at any term of court or unable to discharge the duties of the office, the superior court, acting as a body, shall appoint a county attorney, who shall be a member of the New Hampshire bar, for the time being and allow said appointee such compensation for his or her services as set by the county delegation.”
RSA 7:33

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Bryan MorseRPrime

Public testimony

2 signed in online · 1 wrote testimony

0% support50% oppose50% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Officers should have the same terms as state representatives”
— Roy Schweiker, Concordopposes

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
  • Jan 16, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass15–1
    Overall
    94% yea
  • Feb 5, 2026HouseVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • Mar 26, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1204s5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 26, 2026SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2026-1204sadopted
  • Mar 26, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-1204sadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • Apr 9, 2026HouseRoll callHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1204s (Rep. Pauer)Failed65–287How they voted
    Overall
    18% yea
    Republicans
    47–14824% yea
    Democrats
    18–13911% yea
  • Apr 9, 2026HouseVoice voteHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1204s (Rep. Sweeney)adopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 13, 2026Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government26:18–27:361m 18slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing; Executive Session
  • Feb 5, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Mar 17, 2026Public hearingSenate Election Law and Municipal Affairs18:14–21:102m 56slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Mar 26, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1204s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1204s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-1204s — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 9, 2026Floor debateHouse floor1:17:03–1:25:138m 10slocated in the stream transcriptHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1204s (Rep. Pauer) — failed, roll call 65-287; House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1204s (Rep. Sweeney) — 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. 31
  2. Jan 13, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/13/2026 09:50 am GP 154
  3. Jan 13, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 01/13/2026 09:50 am GP 154
  4. Jan 16, 2026House: Ought to Pass 01/16/2026 (Vote 15-1; CC) HC 5 P. 14
  5. Feb 5, 2026HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 02/05/2026 HJ 3 P. 17
  6. Feb 5, 2026SenIntroduced 02/05/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 4
  7. Mar 17, 2026SenHearing: 03/17/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 09:15 am; SC 10
  8. Mar 26, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1204s, 03/26/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 11
  9. Mar 26, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1204s, AA, VV; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
  10. Mar 26, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-1204s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
  11. Apr 9, 2026HouseHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1204s (Rep. Pauer): MF RC 65-287 04/09/2026 HJ 10 P. 8
  12. Apr 9, 2026HouseHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1204s (Rep. Sweeney): MA VV 04/09/2026 HJ 10 P. 10

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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