SB 44 (2020): relative to election procedures, delivery of ballots, and assents to candidacy.

SB 44 (2020)

relative to election procedures, delivery of ballots, and assents to candidacy.

• Status: Signed into law
• Term: 2019-2020
• House committee: Election Law
• Senate committee: Election Law and Municipal Affairs
• Subject: Elections
• Chapter law: 35

The Story

It was introduced on January 3, 2019 and referred to the Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs committee. The committee held a public hearing on January 30, 2019. The committee voted unanimously, 5–0, to recommend that the Senate pass it, and the report was placed on the consent calendar. On March 7, 2019 the Senate voted to pass it on a voice vote and ordered it to a third reading. It crossed to the House on March 20, 2019 and was referred to the House Election Law committee. The committee held a public hearing on April 10, 2019. The committee met in executive session on April 25, 2019 to vote on its recommendation. The committee retained the bill, holding it for further work rather than reporting it out this year. The committee held a work session on October 3, 2019. The committee met in executive session on October 31, 2019 to vote on its recommendation. The committee voted unanimously, 20–0, to recommend that the House pass it with changes (amendment 2019-2803h), and the report was placed on the consent calendar. The committee's amendment (2019-2803h) was adopted on a voice vote on January 8, 2020, changing the text of the bill. On January 8, 2020 the House voted to pass it with changes on a voice vote. On June 29, 2020 the Senate voted to agree to the other chamber's changes on a voice vote, on a motion by Sen. Levesque. The bill was enrolled on June 29, 2020 — the final check of the text before it goes to the governor — and an enrolled bill amendment (2020-1615e) was adopted on a voice vote to correct technical errors found after passage. The bill was enrolled on June 30, 2020 — the final check of the text before it goes to the governor — and an enrolled bill amendment (2020-1615e) was adopted on a voice vote to correct technical errors found after passage. The governor signed it on July 28, 2020, making it Chapter 35 of the session laws. It took effect on September 26, 2020.

Sponsors

• Sen. Regina Birdsell (R - SD19) (prime sponsor)
• Sen. Sharon Carson (R - SD14)
• Sen. James Gray (R - SD6)
• Rep. Kathleen Hoelzel (R - Rock 3)
• Rep. Barbara Griffin (R - Hills 6)

Hearings and Sessions

• January 30, 2019, 9:00 AM: hearing, Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs, LOB 102
• April 10, 2019, 1:30 PM: public hearing, House Election Law, LOB 308
• April 25, 2019, 11:00 AM: executive session, House Election Law, LOB 308
• October 3, 2019, 1:00 PM: subcommittee work session, House Election Law, LOB 305
• October 31, 2019, 11:00 AM: executive session, House Election Law, LOB 308

Votes

• March 7, 2019, Senate: Ought to Pass — voice vote, passed
• January 8, 2020, House: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2019-2803h — voice vote, passed
• June 29, 2020, Senate: Concur with the House Amendment — voice vote, passed

The Docket

Laws It Would Change

• RSA 655:25
• RSA 658:33
• RSA 659:12
• RSA 659:24
• RSA 659:36
• RSA 659:70
• RSA 659:88
• RSA 659:91-a

From the General Court

• Bill text
• Bill status page
• Docket
• SC 8
• SC 12
• HC 50, page 7