HB 78 (2025): requiring a person to have a domicile in the district from which they serve as county commissioner.

HB 78 (2025)

requiring a person to have a domicile in the district from which they serve as county commissioner.

• Status: Signed into law
• Term: 2025-2026
• House committee: Municipal and County Government
• Senate committee: Election Law and Municipal Affairs
• Subject: Elections
• Chapter law: 6

The Story

It was introduced on January 8, 2025 and referred to the House Municipal and County Government committee. The committee held a public hearing on January 13, 2025, with 32 people signed in online: 31 in support and 1 as neutral. The committee met in executive session on January 23, 2025 to vote on its recommendation. The majority recommended that the House pass it with changes (amendment 2025-0034h), and the minority recommended that the House kill it, by a vote of 13–5. The report was placed on the regular calendar. The committee's amendment (2025-0034h) was adopted on a division vote 325–30 on February 6, 2025, changing the text of the bill. On February 6, 2025 the House voted to pass it with changes on a voice vote. It crossed to the Senate on March 6, 2025 and was referred to the Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs committee. The committee held a public hearing on March 18, 2025. The committee voted unanimously, 5–0, to recommend that the Senate pass it, and the report was placed on the consent calendar. On March 27, 2025 the Senate voted to pass it on a voice vote and ordered it to a third reading. The bill was enrolled on April 17, 2025 — the final check of the text before it goes to the governor. The governor signed it on May 8, 2025, making it Chapter 6 of the session laws.

Sponsors

• Rep. Len Turcotte (R - Straf 4) (prime sponsor)
• Rep. Claudine Burnham (R - Straf 2)
• Rep. Kelley Potenza (R - Straf 19)
• Rep. Aidan Ankarberg (I - Straf 7)
• Rep. Michael Granger (R - Straf 2)
• Sen. James Gray (R - SD6)

Hearings and Sessions

• January 13, 2025, 1:35 PM: public hearing, House Municipal and County Government, LOB 301-303
• January 23, 2025, 1:40 PM: executive session, House Municipal and County Government, LOB 301-303
• February 6, 2025: floor debate, House
• March 18, 2025, 10:00 AM: hearing, Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs, LOB 103
• March 27, 2025: floor debate, Senate

Votes

• February 6, 2025, House: Adopt Committee Amendment — yeas 325, nays 30, passed
• February 6, 2025, House: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2025-0034h — voice vote, passed
• March 27, 2025, Senate: Ought to Pass — voice vote, passed

The Docket

Laws It Would Change

• RSA 655:9

From the General Court

• Bill text
• Bill status page
• Docket
• HC 10, page 10
• SC 13
• SC 14