Committee Summary for Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs (04/01/2025)

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
HB107 00:04:56.720 - 8:19:43 AM	Public Hearing	relative to political advertising printed in newspapers, periodicals, or billboards.	Perez, Kristine(R)[A]2024
HB269 00:22:15.440 - 8:37:02 AM	Public Hearing	relative to the date for correction of the voter checklist.	Kuttab, Katelyn(R)[A-]2024
HB269 00:28:05.919 - 8:42:52 AM	Executive Session	relative to the date for correction of the voter checklist.	Kuttab, Katelyn(R)[A-]2024
HB107 00:29:23.000 - 8:44:10 AM	Executive Session	relative to political advertising printed in newspapers, periodicals, or billboards.	Perez, Kristine(R)[A]2024
HB294 00:32:50.120 - 8:47:37 AM	Public Hearing	relative to the processing of absentee ballots.	Daniels, Gary(R)
HB294 00:43:07.560 - 8:57:54 AM	Executive Session	relative to the processing of absentee ballots.	Daniels, Gary(R)
HB327 00:48:11.920 - 9:02:58 AM	Public Hearing	relative to filing for office and witnessing affidavits.	McFarlane, Donald(R)
HB327 00:53:43.079 - 9:08:30 AM	Executive Session	relative to filing for office and witnessing affidavits.	McFarlane, Donald(R)
HB92 00:56:22.720 - 9:11:09 AM	Executive Session	(New Title) requiring recusal of members of zoning boards of adjustment and planning boards in certain circumstances.	Alexander, Joe(R)[A]2024
HB554 01:02:56.559 - 9:17:43 AM	Public Hearing	(New Title) relative to the placement of political advertising on municipal property.	Andrus, Louise(R)[B+]2024
HB554 01:02:56.559 - 9:17:43 AM	Executive Session	(New Title) relative to the placement of political advertising on municipal property.	Andrus, Louise(R)[B+]2024

HB107: Representative Christine Perez from Londonderry, NH Support00:04:56.720 - 8:19:43 AM; Representative Christine Perez introduced House Bill 107, which aims to remove the requirement for newspapers, periodicals, and billboards to label political advertisements as such. She explained that the bill was inspired by a case where a small newspaper in Londonderry was taken to court for not including the 'political advertisement' label. Perez argued that this requirement places an undue burden on small newspapers, especially during election seasons when they receive numerous ads. She emphasized that the bill does not eliminate the need for the 'paid for by' disclaimer, which remains the responsibility of the candidate or committee. Perez highlighted the severity of the penalties faced by the newspaper owner, which could have resulted in up to six years in prison and a $2,000 fine per ad, and stressed the need for clarity and fairness in the law.
HB107: Representative Caitlyn Coutab from Windham, NH Support00:10:11.360 - 8:24:58 AM; Representative Caitlyn Coutab supported Representative Perez's testimony on House Bill 107. She added that the penalties for not labeling political ads are part of a broader chapter on political expenditures, and the specific case mentioned involved class A misdemeanors. Coutab noted that if the newspaper owner had been charged as a corporate entity, the charges could have been felonies. She also mentioned that the bill had passed through the House the previous year and received support from other newspapers, including the Union Leader.
HB107: Linda Bundy from Antrim, NH Oppose00:16:40.880 - 8:31:27 AM; Linda Bundy opposed House Bill 107, arguing that political advertisements should be clearly marked to ensure transparency and accountability. She stated that without such identification, political material could be mistaken for unbiased reporting. Bundy referenced a case where a newspaper owner in Londonderry was warned and subsequently charged for not labeling political ads. She urged the committee to vote the bill inexpedient to legislate.
HB107: Kaylee Estradio from Durham, NH, Open Democracy Oppose00:18:07.280 - 8:32:54 AM; Kaylee Estradio, representing Open Democracy, opposed House Bill 107. She argued that the existing statute requiring political ads to be labeled is rooted in common sense and essential for electoral transparency. Estradio highlighted the potential for political misinformation if the labeling requirement is removed and emphasized the importance of holding candidates accountable through mandatory disclosure. She referenced a recent case where a newspaper publisher was fined for failing to mark political ads and urged the committee to vote the bill inexpedient to legislate, citing the detrimental impact on campaign integrity and media messaging.
HB269: Representative Caitlyn Coutab, Windham Support00:22:15.440 - 8:37:02 AM; Representative Caitlyn Coutab introduced House Bill 269, describing it as a housekeeping bill aimed at removing the word 'Saturday' from RSA 654:28 to align it with other statutes updated in 2016. She highlighted the issues caused by this requirement, particularly during state of emergency situations like snowstorms, where town resources were diverted to ensure compliance with the law. The Secretary of State supports this bill to avoid such issues.
HB269: Eileen Mshimo, Windham Support00:24:28.840 - 8:39:15 AM; Eileen Mshimo, a long-serving supervisor of the voter checklist in Windham, supported HB269 by sharing her experiences with outdated RSAs. She recounted how previous legislation had improved the notification of voter deaths and allowed for more scheduling flexibility for voter sessions, but the word 'Saturday' was inadvertently left in the section related to town elections. This oversight led to significant inconveniences and safety issues during a major snowstorm in March 2023, where town resources had to be redirected to comply with the law. She urged the committee to pass the bill to prevent future issues.
HB269: Committee Vote00:28:05.919 - 8:42:52 AM; The committee moved into executive session and voted unanimously to recommend that House Bill 269 ought to pass. There was no discussion recorded on this bill during the session.
HB107: Senator Information Only00:29:23.000 - 8:44:10 AM; During the executive session on HB107, concerns were raised about the potential for political ads to mislead the public due to the way information is presented. There was discussion about the penalties for unintentional errors in political advertising and a suggestion to review the enforcement section of the bill. No immediate motion was made, and further discussion was encouraged.
HB294: Representative Gary Daniels, Milford Support00:32:50.120 - 8:47:37 AM; Representative Gary Daniels introduced House Bill 294, which aims to remove the provision that delays the processing of absentee ballots until after the polls close. He explained that this delay significantly extends the time required to report election results, which can be burdensome for volunteers who work long hours. He urged the committee to vote in favor of the bill.
HB294: Pete Baselier, Milford Support00:35:08.680 - 8:49:55 AM; Pete Baselier, the school district and town moderator for Milford, supported HB294 by explaining the impact of delayed absentee ballot processing on large polling places like Milford. He detailed the long hours worked by election officials and volunteers and the potential for processing to extend into the early morning hours if delayed. He emphasized the transparency of the process and encouraged a favorable vote on the bill.
HB294: Linda Bundy, Antrim Support00:38:17.280 - 8:53:04 AM; Linda Bundy from Antrim supported HB294, highlighting that the bill removes the ability of a small group of voters to delay the processing of absentee ballots, which serves no purpose and only extends the workday for election officials. She noted the transparency of the current process and the bipartisan support for the bill, urging the committee to recommend it for passage.
HB294: Kaylee Stradio, Durham Support00:39:52.079 - 8:54:39 AM; Kaylee Stradio, a Durham voter and public policy fellow with Open Democracy, supports HB294. She argues that the bill, which passed unanimously in the House committee, is a bipartisan effort to prevent a small group of 10 voters from dictating when absentee ballots are processed on election day through challenges. Such challenges can lead to extended hours for election workers and delayed election results. Stradio believes it's unfair for a small, potentially highly partisan group to have such significant influence over ballot processing and urges the committee to vote in favor of the bill to protect election officials from unnecessarily long hours.
HB294: Sarah Program Support00:40:44.880 - 8:55:31 AM; Sarah Program supports HB294, emphasizing its importance for the 2024 general election. She notes that small groups of voters in some communities used the provision to delay absentee ballot processing and challenge ballots at the end of the night, which only serves to delay counting. Program describes HB294 as a simple, common-sense fix to ensure election officials can work without unnecessary disruptions and urges the committee to support the bill to eliminate avenues for delays.
HB294: Committee Vote00:43:07.560 - 8:57:54 AM; The committee moved to pass HB294 in executive session. A motion to pass was made by Senator Lang and seconded by Senator Roachford. The motion was approved unanimously, and the committee also approved consent to the motion.
HB327: Representative Information Only00:48:11.920 - 9:02:58 AM; The representative introduced HB327, which aims to address issues faced by small towns with limited availability of town clerks and the absence of notary public status for some clerks. The bill was amended to extend its application to everyone, as suggested by the Secretary of State. The bill allows filing at the state level as well as at the town level and permits town clerks to complete filing forms without being notaries. The representative shared personal experiences of the difficulties in filing due to limited clerk hours and notary issues, emphasizing the bill's practical relevance.
HB327: Committee Vote00:53:43.079 - 9:08:30 AM; In the executive session, the committee discussed HB327. There was a suggestion to explore a simpler solution with the Secretary of State's office, but the committee decided to move forward with the bill as it addresses the specific issue of allowing filing at both the state and town levels. A motion to pass the bill (OTP) was made and seconded, and the committee voted in favor, also approving consent to the motion.
HB92: Committee Vote00:56:22.720 - 9:11:09 AM; The committee discussed HB92 in executive session. A proposal to remove section two and proceed with section one, renumbering section three to section two, was made. An amendment was suggested to insert 'or pending' before 'the planning board in a quasi-judicial capacity' on line four. The committee amendment was approved, and the bill as amended was passed with unanimous consent.
HB554: Representative Information Only01:02:56.559 - 9:17:43 AM; The representative introduced HB554, which deals with the replacement of political advertisements on municipal property. No one testified in person, and online, there were zero in support and four opposed. The public hearing was closed, and the committee moved to executive session.
HB554: Committee Vote01:02:56.559 - 9:17:43 AM; In the executive session, the committee discussed HB554. There was a preference for the language in a related Senate bill that clearly distinguished between private and public property regarding political advertisements. The committee moved into executive session to further discuss the bill.
HB554: Committee Information Only01:04:29.559 - 9:19:16 AM; The committee concluded the discussion on HB554 regarding advertising. They decided to draft an amendment to modify the bill by removing certain elements and adding their own language. The amendment will be sent back to the House. Following this, a motion was made and seconded to end the executive session, and the motion passed unanimously.

Gray, James(Chairman)(R)[C+]2024	Lang, Timothy(V Chairman)(R)[C+]2024	Perkins Kwoka, Rebecca(D)[D-]2024
Rochefort, David(R)	Long, Pat(D)