SB 7-FN-LOCAL (2020): establishing the secure modern accurate registration act (SMART ACT).

SB 7-FN-LOCAL (2020)

establishing the secure modern accurate registration act (SMART ACT).

• Status: Vetoed, override failed
• Term: 2019-2020
• House committee: Election Law
• Senate committee: Election Law and Municipal Affairs
• Subject: Elections

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 February 20, 2019. The committee recommended that the Senate pass it with changes (amendment 2019-0849s). The committee's amendment (2019-0849s) was adopted on a voice vote on March 14, 2019, changing the text of the bill. On March 14, 2019 the Senate voted to pass it with changes, then referred it on to the Senate Finance committee. The committee recommended that the Senate pass it with changes (amendment 2019-1157s). The committee's amendment (2019-1157s) was adopted on a voice vote on March 28, 2019, changing the text of the bill. On March 28, 2019 the Senate rejected a motion to send it back to committee, on a motion by Sen. Sharon Carson. On March 28, 2019 the Senate voted to pass it with changes and ordered it to a third reading. It crossed to the House 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 23, 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 work sessions on September 5, 2019, September 12, 2019 and September 24, 2019. The committee met in executive session on October 31, 2019 to vote on its recommendation. The majority recommended that the House pass it with changes (amendment 2019-2712h), and the minority recommended that the House kill it, by a vote of 12–8. The report was placed on the regular calendar. The committee's amendment (2019-2712h) 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 roll call 203–163. On January 8, 2020 the bill was referred to the Finance committee. The committee held work sessions on January 21, 2020, January 28, 2020 and February 4, 2020. The committee met in executive session on February 5, 2020 to vote on its recommendation. The minority of the committee recommended that the House kill it. The majority of the committee recommended that the House pass it with changes (amendment 2020-0457h) by a vote of 13–7, and the report was placed on the regular calendar. On February 20, 2020 the House adopted “Special Order to regular place in next calendar” on a voice vote, on a motion by Rep. Ley. The committee's amendment (2020-0457h) was adopted on a voice vote on March 5, 2020, changing the text of the bill. On March 5, 2020 the House voted to pass it with changes on a division vote 202–146. On June 29, 2020 the Senate voted to agree to the other chamber's changes, 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 (2020-1632e) 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 (2020-1632e) was adopted on a voice vote to correct technical errors found after passage. The governor vetoed it on July 31, 2020. The legislature can override a veto with a two-thirds vote in both chambers.

Sponsors

• Sen. Melanie Levesque (D - SD12) (prime sponsor)
• Sen. Tom Sherman (D - SD24)
• Sen. Martha Hennessey (D - SD5)
• Sen. Cindy Rosenwald (D - SD13)
• Sen. Jay Kahn (D - SD10)
• Sen. Martha Fuller Clark (D - SD21)
• Rep. Ryan Buchanan (D - Merr 15)
• Rep. Paul Bergeron (D - Hills 29)
• Rep. Connie Lane (D - Merr 12)

Hearings and Sessions

• February 20, 2019, 10:00 AM: hearing, Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs, LOB 102
• April 10, 2019, 10:00 AM: public hearing, House Election Law, LOB 308
• April 23, 2019, 1:00 PM: executive session, House Election Law, LOB 308
• September 5, 2019, 10:00 AM: subcommittee work session, House Election Law, LOB 308
• September 12, 2019, 10:00 AM: subcommittee work session, House Election Law, LOB 307
• September 24, 2019, 10:00 AM: subcommittee work session, House Election Law, LOB 307
• October 31, 2019, 11:00 AM: executive session, House Election Law, LOB 308
• January 21, 2020, 1:30 PM: work session, House Finance, LOB 212
• January 28, 2020, 1:00 PM: work session, House Finance, LOB 212
• February 4, 2020, 1:00 PM: work session, House Finance, LOB 212
• February 5, 2020, 10:00 AM: executive session, House Finance, LOB 210-211

Votes

• March 14, 2019, Senate: Ought to Pass with Amendment — yeas 14, nays 10, passed
• March 28, 2019, Senate: Rereferred — yeas 10, nays 13, failed
• March 28, 2019, Senate: Ought to Pass with Amendment — yeas 13, nays 10, passed
• January 8, 2020, House: Ought to Pass with Amendment — yeas 203, nays 163, passed
• February 20, 2020, House: Special Order to regular place in next calendar — voice vote, passed
• March 5, 2020, House: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2020-0457h — yeas 202, nays 146, passed
• June 29, 2020, Senate: Concur — yeas 15, nays 9, passed
• September 16, 2020, Senate: Veto Override — yeas 14, nays 10, failed

The Docket

Laws It Would Change

• RSA 654
• RSA 91-A:5
• RSA 260:14
• RSA 5:6-d

From the General Court

• Bill text
• Bill status page
• Docket
• SC 11
• SC 13
• SC 15
• HC 50, page 21
• HC 7, page 31
• This page’s data as JSON