Committee Summary for House Election Law (05/27/2025)

Berry, Ross(Chairman)(R)[A-]2024	Burnham, Claudine(Clerk)(R)[A]2024	Qualey, James(V Chairman)(R)[A-]2024
Ward, Gerald(D)[CT]2024	Prudhomme-O'Brien, Katherine(R)[B+]2024	Gilmore, Gary(D)
See, Alvin(R)[A]2024	Grill, Jessica(D)[CT]2024	Wood, Clayton(R)[A-]2024
Bay, Luz(D)[F]2024	Wherry, Robert(R)[A]2024	Harvey-Bolia, Juliet(R)[A]2024
Muirhead, Russell(D)[CT]2024	Wilhelm, Matthew(D)[CT]2024	Lane, Connie(D)[F]2024
Newsom, James(D)	Toner, Travis(R)	Guzofski, James(R)

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
SB43 2025-1651H 00:02:29.920 - 9:01:15 AM	Public Hearing	removing articles of clothing from the definition of electioneering.	Lang, Timothy(R)[C+]2024
SB43 2025-2304 00:09:57.640 - 9:08:43 AM	Public Hearing	removing articles of clothing from the definition of electioneering.	Lang, Timothy(R)[C+]2024
SB43 2025-1651H 00:12:17.680 - 9:11:03 AM	Executive Session	removing articles of clothing from the definition of electioneering.	Lang, Timothy(R)[C+]2024
SB44 00:17:57.280 - 9:16:43 AM	Executive Session	relative to hand counts of ballots in elections.	Avard, Kevin(R)[C+]2024
SB45 00:19:37.360 - 9:18:23 AM	Executive Session	(New Title) clarifying the placement of advertising signs on state-owned property.	Gray, James(R)[C+]2024
SB103 00:21:57.919 - 9:20:43 AM	Executive Session	relative to the number of polling stations that are available for certain towns.	Murphy, Keith(R)[B+]2024
SB213 2025-2461H 00:25:24.279 - 9:24:10 AM	Executive Session	relative to absentee voting.	Gray, James(R)[C+]2024
SB215 2025-2326H 00:29:46.880 - 9:28:32 AM	Executive Session	requiring an unorganized town or unincorporated place to elect town officers for the purpose of conducting elections.	McConkey, Mark(R)
SB218 2025-2407H 00:33:09.360 - 9:31:55 AM	Executive Session	relative to absentee ballot outer envelopes.	Gray, James(R)[C+]2024
SB221 2025-2463H 00:38:24.400 - 9:37:10 AM	Executive Session	relative to the verification of the checklist.	Avard, Kevin(R)[C+]2024
SB222 2025-2406H 01:08:24.640 - 10:07:10 AM	Executive Session	relative to moving the state primary date.	Lang, Timothy(R)[C+]2024
SB287 2025-2414H 01:21:24.719 - 10:20:10 AM	Executive Session	requiring applicants for absentee ballots to present a copy of their photo identification with their application.	Pearl, Howard (R)[C+]2024
SB43 2025-2475H 01:38:43.960 - 10:37:29 AM	Executive Session	removing articles of clothing from the definition of electioneering.	Lang, Timothy(R)[C+]2024

SB43 2025-1651H: James Newsome, Representative from Hopkinton and Bow Information Only00:02:29.920 - 9:01:15 AM; Representative Newsome introduced amendment 2025-1651H to Senate Bill 43. The amendment modifies the bill in two ways: first, it aligns the bill more closely with current statutes and the rationale from a Supreme Court case; second, it includes a non-germane section that seeks to expand the use of poll pads for town meetings, deliberative sessions, and business sessions.
SB43 2025-1651H: Sarah Pushino, Town Moderator from Hopkinton Support00:05:12.000 - 9:03:58 AM; Sarah Pushino spoke in support of the amendment, emphasizing its importance as a housekeeping measure to allow communities using poll pads for voter check-in to utilize them in all operations. She highlighted the efficiency and time-saving benefits of poll pads, and the unexpected prohibition by the New Hampshire Secretary of State's office from using them at annual meetings. She expressed hope that the amendment would enable the use of poll pads at annual meetings starting in 2026.
SB43 2025-1651H: Sarah Burke Cohen, New Hampshire Municipal Association Information Only00:07:25.840 - 9:06:11 AM; Sarah Burke Cohen from the New Hampshire Municipal Association supported the use of poll pads at town elections but noted problems with the language in the amendment. She pointed out incorrect citations that could cause issues for towns and suggested simplified language to include town and school business and deliberative sessions. She could not support the amendment as written due to these citation errors.
SB43 2025-2304: James Newsome, Representative from Hopkinton and Bow Information Only00:09:57.640 - 9:08:43 AM; Representative Newsome introduced amendment 2025-2304, which is similar to the second paragraph of the previous amendment, seeking to authorize poll books to be used at town and school deliberative sessions and special meetings. He mentioned the need for simplified language due to incorrect section references.
SB43 2025-2304: Sarah Burke Cohen, New Hampshire Municipal Association Information Only00:11:08.640 - 9:09:54 AM; Sarah Burke Cohen reiterated her previous testimony, supporting the use of poll books but not the language of the amendment due to incorrect citations. She pointed out specific errors in RSA references and suggested changes to make the amendment more usable.
SB43 2025-1651H: Committee Information Only00:12:17.680 - 9:11:03 AM; The committee discussed amending amendment 2025-1651H. They considered changing the citation from 394 to 391 and adding provisions to include school districts. There was a suggestion to remove specific citations and use more general language to apply to town and school meetings. The committee planned to file these changes with the Office of the Secretary before breaking for a caucus.
SB44: Committee Vote00:17:57.280 - 9:16:43 AM; The committee moved to retain Senate Bill 44, relative to hand counts of ballots in elections. The motion was seconded and passed without discussion.
SB44: Committee Vote00:17:57.280 - 9:16:43 AM; The committee voted to retain Senate Bill 44 with a unanimous vote of 17 to 0. No report is due, and the decision was communicated to the assistant.
SB45: Representative Wood Vote00:19:37.360 - 9:18:23 AM; Representative Wood moved to recommend Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL) on Senate Bill 45, citing extensive discussions on signs and the lack of new information covered by the bill. The motion was seconded by Representative Gassovki and passed unanimously with a vote of 17 to 0. Representative Wood will be responsible for the report.
SB103: Representative Qualey Vote00:21:57.919 - 9:20:43 AM; Representative Qualey moved to retain Senate Bill 103, emphasizing the need for more time to address the issue properly. The motion was seconded by Representative Wood.
SB103: Representative Lane Information Only00:23:00.480 - 9:21:46 AM; Representative Lane questioned the retention of SB103, referencing a similar bill considered earlier. The discussion highlighted the complexity due to the bill's application only to presidential elections, and the need for more time to work on it.
SB103: Representative Qu Information Only00:23:55.880 - 9:22:41 AM; Representative Qu agreed with the need for more time to work on the issue, supporting the retention of SB103.
SB103: Committee Vote00:25:24.279 - 9:24:10 AM; The committee voted unanimously to retain Senate Bill 103 with a vote of 17 to 0.
SB213 2025-2461H: Representative Toner Vote00:25:24.279 - 9:24:10 AM; Representative Toner seconded the motion to pass and the amendment to Senate Bill 213. The amendment, 2025-2461H, replaces the bill with the House position on House Bill 340, expanding the definition of electioneering by public employees.
SB213 2025-2461H: Representative Lane Information Only00:26:33.520 - 9:25:19 AM; Representative Lane confirmed that the amendment incorporated HB 340 as passed by the House.
SB213 2025-2461H: Committee Vote00:28:02.799 - 9:26:48 AM; The amendment 2025-2461H to Senate Bill 213 was adopted with a vote of 10 to 7. Subsequently, the motion to pass Senate Bill 213 as amended also carried with a vote of 10 to 7.
SB215 2025-2326H: Representative Lane Vote00:29:46.880 - 9:28:32 AM; Representative Lane seconded the motion to pass Senate Bill 215. The amendment 2025-2326H was moved to codify the process for conducting elections in unorganized towns or unincorporated places, addressing concerns about broad rulemaking authority. The amendment and the motion to pass as amended were both approved unanimously with a vote of 17 to 0.
SB218 2025-2407H: Representative Harvey Bully Vote00:33:09.360 - 9:31:55 AM; Representative Harvey Bully moved to pass Senate Bill 218 with amendment 2025-2407H, which is a replace all amendment incorporating the verbiage from House Bill 217. The amendment and the motion to pass as amended carried with a vote of 10 to 7. Representative Harvey Bully will be responsible for the majority report, and Representative Lane will provide the minority report.
SB221 2025-2463H: Representative Burnham Vote00:38:24.400 - 9:37:10 AM; Representative Burnham moved to pass Senate Bill 221 with amendment 2025-2463H, which readopts the House position on annual verification of the checklist. The underlying bill was flawed without the amendment. The amendment and the motion to pass as amended carried with a vote of 10 to 7. Representative Burnham will be responsible for the majority report, and Representative Lane will provide the minority report.
SB222 2025-2406H: Representative Wor Vote01:08:24.640 - 10:07:10 AM; Representative Wor seconded the motion to pass Senate Bill 222. Representative Wilhelm moved amendment 2025-2406H to move the effective date to January 1st, 2027, aligning with the House position. The amendment failed with a vote of 10 to 8, and the underlying motion to pass carried with a vote of 10 to 8. The majority report will be handled by the chair, and Representative Lane will provide the minority report.
SB287 2025-2414H: Representative Toner Vote01:21:24.719 - 10:20:10 AM; Representative Toner seconded the motion to pass Senate Bill 287 and the amendment 2025-2414H. The amendment made several changes to the bill, including applying ID requirements to all absentee voters, allowing ID submission with the application, and removing signature verification and marking of the outer envelope. The amendment and the motion to pass as amended carried with a vote of 10 to 8. The majority report will be handled by the chair, and Representative Lane will provide the minority report.
SB43 2025-2475H: Representative Newsome Support01:38:43.960 - 10:37:29 AM; Representative Newsome moved to adopt amendment 2025-2475H to Senate Bill 43. The amendment makes minor changes to align with a Supreme Court case and simplifies language regarding the use of poll books for town and school district business. The amendment was discussed and adopted unanimously.
SB43 2025-2475H: Representative Newsome Support01:40:51.840 - 10:39:37 AM; Representative Newsome moved for Senate Bill 43 to pass as amended with amendment 2025-2475H. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously with a vote of 18 to 0. The bill was placed on the consent calendar.
SB43 2025-2475H: Representative C Information Only01:42:59.360 - 10:41:45 AM; Representative C discussed the need for a committee of conference for several bills. House Bill 154 about hand-counted ballots, House Bill 270 on electronic device preservation, and House Bill 67 on accessible voting machines are among those requiring further discussion. Representative C also mentioned that House Bill 626's committee of conference request would be withdrawn and replaced with a concur motion.