HB 1370-FN (2024): relative to eliminating voter identification exceptions.

HB 1370-FN (2024)

relative to eliminating voter identification exceptions.

• Status: Died on the table
• Term: 2023-2024
• House committee: Election Law
• Senate committee: Election Law and Municipal Affairs
• Subject: Elections

The Story

It was introduced on January 3, 2024 and referred to the House Election Law committee. The committee held a public hearing on February 6, 2024, with 19 people signed in online: 17 in support and 2 in opposition. The committee met in executive session on February 8, 2024 to vote on its recommendation. The majority recommended that the House pass it, and the minority recommended that the House kill it, by a vote of 15–4. The report was placed on the regular calendar. On March 14, 2024 the House voted to pass it on a division vote 254–120. It crossed to the Senate on March 21, 2024 and was referred to the Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs committee. The committee held a public hearing on April 30, 2024. On May 15, 2024 the Senate adopted “Special Order to 05/16/2024, Without Objection”. The committee voted unanimously, 5–0, to recommend that the Senate kill it, and the report was placed on the consent calendar. On May 16, 2024 the Senate rejected a motion to kill it on a voice vote. A floor amendment (2024-1903s), offered by Sen. James Gray, was adopted on a roll call 13–10 on May 16, 2024, changing the text of the bill. On May 16, 2024 the Senate voted to pass it with changes on a voice vote and ordered it to a third reading. On May 28, 2024 the House adopted “House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2024-1903s and Requests CofC (Reps. S. Smith, Qualey, Osborne, Lane)” on a voice vote. On May 30, 2024 the Senate adopted “Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference” on a voice vote, on a motion by Sen. James Gray. A committee of conference met on June 5, 2024 to try to settle the differences between the two chambers' versions of the bill. The Senate adopted the conference report (2024-2268c) on a voice vote. On June 13, 2024 the House adopted “Lay HB1370 on Table” on a division vote 223–141, on a motion by Rep. Hoell. The bill died on the table when the session ended on October 10, 2024, having been set aside and never taken back up.

Sponsors

• Rep. Robert Wherry (R - Hills 13) (prime sponsor)
• Rep. Claudine Burnham (R - Straf 2)
• Rep. Clayton Wood (R - Merr 13)
• Rep. Heath Howard (D - Straf 4)
• Rep. Cyril Aures (R - Merr 13)
• Rep. Kristine Perez (R - Rock 16)
• Rep. Sandra Panek (R - Hills 1)

Hearings and Sessions

• February 6, 2024, 2:30 PM: public hearing, House Election Law, LOB 306-308
• February 8, 2024, 3:00 PM: executive session, House Election Law, LOB 306-308
• April 30, 2024, 10:10 AM: hearing, Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs, LOB 103
• June 5, 2024, 11:00 AM: committee of conference, LOB 306-308

Votes

• March 14, 2024, House: Ought to Pass — yeas 254, nays 120, passed
• May 16, 2024, Senate: Inexpedient to Legislate — voice vote, failed
• May 16, 2024, Senate: Adopt Floor Amendment — yeas 13, nays 10, passed
• May 16, 2024, Senate: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2024-1903s — voice vote, passed
• May 28, 2024, House: House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2024-1903s and Requests CofC (Reps. S. Smith, Qualey, Osborne, Lane) — voice vote, passed
• May 30, 2024, Senate: Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference — voice vote, passed
• June 12, 2024, Senate: Adopt Conference Committee Report — voice vote, passed
• June 13, 2024, House: Lay HB1370 on Table — yeas 223, nays 141, passed
• June 13, 2024, Senate: Adopt Conference Committee Report — yeas 14, nays 10, passed

The Docket

Laws It Would Change

• RSA 5:6-d
• RSA 654:12
• RSA 654:7
• RSA 654:7-a
• RSA 659:27
• RSA 659:27-a
• RSA 659:13
• RSA 659:32
• RSA 659:23-a
• RSA 660:17-a

Related Bills

• HB 1569-FN (2024): relative to eliminating voter identification exceptions.
• HB 1569-FN (2024): relative to eliminating voter identification exceptions.

From the General Court

• Bill text
• Bill status page
• Docket
• SC 17
• SC 19
• House Calendar 10, 2024, committee report