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SB 186 · 2026 · Senate · Executive Departments and Administration Committee

Statehouse portrait display rules

AI-generated

(New Title) preventing portraits depicting persons from being hung in certain places in the statehouse, unless the subject of the portrait has been dead for at least 10 years and provided exemplary and noteworthy services to the citizens of this state.

Prohibits portraits depicting persons from being hung in certain places in the statehouse unless the subject has been dead at least 10 years and provided exemplary service to the state.AI-generated

Status

Died — the House and Senate did not agree · February 5, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕Senate
  3. House
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill prevents portraits depicting persons from being hung in certain places in the statehouse, unless the subject of the portrait has been dead for at least 10 years and provided exemplary and noteworthy services to the citizens of this state.

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

“No portraits, busts, statues, or other memorial objects shall be placed in or on the state house with the exception of those areas under the use and control of the general court as defined by RSA 14:14-b, III, state house annex, state library, Hannah Dustin monument, Franklin Pierce homestead, Daniel Webster birthplace, or grounds connected with each without the consent of the governor and council.”
Section 4:9
“Any portraits, flags, busts, statues, or other memorial objects to be placed in or on legislative facilities as defined by RSA 14:14-b shall be at the direction of the joint legislative historical committee in consultation with the director of the division of historical resources, department of natural and cultural resources.”
Section 4:9
“Portraits depicting persons shall not be placed in the statehouse in any area listed under RSA 14:14-b, unless the subject of the portrait has been dead for at least 10 years and provided exemplary and noteworthy services to the citizens of this state.”
Section 4:9
“The director, division of historical resources, shall be responsible for the care of such memorial objects at any of these sites.”
Section 4:9

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Denise RicciardiRPrimeDeputy Majority Leader
  • Sen. Timothy LangRMajority Whip
  • Sen. Bill GannonRVice Chair· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Sen. Keith MurphyRDeputy President Pro Tempore
  • Sen. Rebecca Perkins KwokaDMinority Leader
  • Sen. Howard PearlRChair· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Sen. Ruth WardRDeputy Majority Leader
  • Sen. Cindy RosenwaldDDeputy Democratic Leader

Also: Sen. Donovan FentonD, Sen. Tim McGoughR, Sen. David WattersD

Public testimony

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

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Mar 13, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass4–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 13, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • Oct 8, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2993h (NT)11–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Jan 7, 2026HouseVoice voteAmendment 2025-2993hadopted
  • Jan 7, 2026HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2993hadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • Feb 5, 2026SenateVoice voteSen. Pearl Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendmentadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Mar 5, 2025Public hearingSenate Executive Departments and Administration1:17:51–1:23:295m 38slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Mar 13, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 16, 2025Public hearingHouse Legislative Administration11:15–19:007m 45slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing; Full Committee Work Session; Retained in Committee
  • Oct 8, 2025Public hearingHouse Legislative Administration1:22:42–1:28:195m 37slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2993h (NT); Full Committee Work Session; Executive Session
  • Jan 7, 2026Floor debateHouse floor32:40–33:0323slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2993h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2025-2993h — adopted, voice vote
  • Feb 5, 2026Floor debateSenate floor1:56:32–1:57:361m 4slocated in the stream transcriptSen. Pearl Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment — adopted, voice vote; Special Order to the Present Time, Without Objection — adopted

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025SenIntroduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Executive Departments and Administration; SJ 3
  2. Mar 5, 2025SenHearing: 03/05/2025, Room 103, SH, 09:15 am; SC 11
  3. Mar 13, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass, 03/13/2025; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 12
  4. Mar 13, 2025SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/13/2025; SJ 7
  5. Mar 27, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Legislative Administration HJ 11 P. 112
  6. Apr 16, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 04/16/2025 01:15 pm LOB 203
  7. Apr 16, 2025HouseFull Committee Work Session: 04/16/2025 01:45 pm LOB 203
  8. Apr 16, 2025HouseRetained in Committee
  9. Oct 8, 2025HouseFull Committee Work Session: 10/08/2025 01:40 pm GP 234
  10. Oct 8, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 10/08/2025 01:40 pm GP 234
  11. Oct 8, 2025HouseCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2993h (NT) 10/08/2025 (Vote 11-0; CC) HC 51 P. 15
  12. Jan 7, 2026HouseAmendment # 2025-2993h: AA VV 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 76
  13. Jan 7, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2993h: MA VV 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 76
  14. Feb 5, 2026SenSpecial Order to the Present Time, Without Objection, MA; 02/05/2026; SJ 3
  15. Feb 5, 2026SenSen. Pearl Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 02/05/2026; SJ 3

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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