HB 475-LOCAL (2025): relative to the reductions from the default budget for official ballot town meetings.

HB 475-LOCAL (2025)

relative to the reductions from the default budget for official ballot town meetings.

• Status: Vetoed, override failed
• Term: 2025-2026
• House committee: Municipal and County Government
• Senate committee: Election Law and Municipal Affairs
• Subject: Municipalities

The Story

It was introduced on January 9, 2025 and referred to the House Municipal and County Government committee. The committee held a public hearing on February 27, 2025, with 197 people signed in online: 13 in support and 184 in opposition. The committee met in executive session on March 10, 2025 to vote on its recommendation. The majority recommended that the House pass it with changes (amendment 2025-0600h), and the minority recommended that the House kill it, by a vote of 10–8. The report was placed on the regular calendar. The committee's amendment (2025-0600h) was adopted on a voice vote on March 27, 2025, changing the text of the bill. On March 27, 2025 the House voted to pass it with changes on a roll call 195–159. It crossed to the Senate on March 27, 2025 and was referred to the Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs committee. The committee held a public hearing on May 13, 2025. The committee voted 3–2 to recommend that the Senate pass it, and the report was placed on the consent calendar. The bill was taken off the consent calendar on May 22, 2025. On May 22, 2025 the Senate voted to pass it on a voice vote and ordered it to a third reading. The bill was enrolled on June 26, 2025 — the final check of the text before it goes to the governor. The governor vetoed it on July 15, 2025. The legislature can override a veto with a two-thirds vote in both chambers. On December 17, 2025 the House voted 178–175 on overriding the governor's veto on a roll call, and the veto was sustained, failing to meet the two thirds threshold.

Sponsors

• Rep. Ron Dunn (R - Rock 16) (prime sponsor)
• Rep. Kristine Perez (R - Rock 16)
• Rep. Diane Pauer (R - Hills 36)
• Rep. Joe Alexander (R - Hills 29)
• Rep. Riché Colcombe (R - Hills 30)
• Rep. Juliet Harvey-Bolia (R - Belk 3)
• Rep. Aidan Ankarberg (I - Straf 7)
• Rep. Susan DeRoy (R - Straf 3)
• Rep. Clayton Wood (R - Merr 13)
• Rep. Cyril Aures (R - Merr 13)

Hearings and Sessions

• February 27, 2025, 1:45 PM: public hearing, House Municipal and County Government, LOB 301-303
• March 10, 2025, 9:30 AM: executive session, House Municipal and County Government, LOB 301-303
• March 27, 2025: floor debate, House
• May 13, 2025, 9:40 AM: hearing, Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs, LOB 103
• May 22, 2025: floor debate, Senate
• December 17, 2025: floor debate, House

Votes

• March 27, 2025, House: Ought to Pass with Amendment — yeas 195, nays 159, passed
• May 22, 2025, Senate: Ought to Pass — voice vote, passed
• December 17, 2025, House: Veto Override — yeas 178, nays 175, failed

The Docket

Laws It Would Change

• RSA 40:13

From the General Court

• Bill text
• Bill status page
• Docket
• HC 17, page 65
• SC 21
• SC 22