HB 1131 (2026): relative to the official ballot referendum form of town meetings.

HB 1131 (2026)

relative to the official ballot referendum form of town meetings.

• Status: Died: the chambers did not agree on a version
• Term: 2025-2026
• House committee: Municipal and County Government
• Senate committee: Election Law and Municipal Affairs
• Subject: Elections

The Story

It was introduced on January 7, 2026 and referred to the House Municipal and County Government committee. The committee held a public hearing on January 23, 2026, with 120 people signed in online: 116 in support and 4 in opposition. The committee met in executive session on February 17, 2026 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 10–7. The report was placed on the regular calendar. On March 12, 2026 the House voted to pass it on a division vote 181–159. It crossed to the Senate on March 12, 2026 and was referred to the Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs committee. The committee held a public hearing on March 31, 2026. The committee voted unanimously, 5–0, to recommend that the Senate pass it with changes (amendment 2026-1595s), and the report was placed on the consent calendar. The committee's amendment (2026-1595s) was adopted on a voice vote on May 7, 2026, changing the text of the bill. On May 7, 2026 the Senate voted to pass it with changes on a voice vote and ordered it to a third reading. On May 21, 2026 the House adopted “House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1595s” on a voice vote, on a motion by Rep. Diane Pauer.

Sponsors

• Rep. Diane Pauer (R - Hills 36) (prime sponsor)
• Sen. Kevin Avard (R - SD12)
• Rep. Deborah Aylward (R - Merr 5)
• Rep. JD Bernardy (R - Rock 36)
• Rep. Richard Brown (R - Carr 8)
• Rep. Jose Cambrils (R - Merr 4)
• Sen. Bill Gannon (R - SD23)
• Rep. Juliet Harvey-Bolia (R - Belk 3)
• Sen. Daniel Innis (R - SD7)
• Rep. Jim Kofalt (R - Hills 32)
• Sen. Tim McGough (R - SD11)
• Rep. James Qualey (R - Ches 18)
• Rep. John Sellers (R - Graf 10)
• Rep. Paul Terry (R - Belk 7)

Hearings and Sessions

• January 23, 2026, 2:00 PM: public hearing, House Municipal and County Government, GP 154
• February 17, 2026, 9:00 AM: executive session, House Municipal and County Government, GP 154
• March 12, 2026: floor debate, House
• March 31, 2026, 1:00 PM: hearing, Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs, SH 122-123
• May 7, 2026: consent calendar, Senate
• May 21, 2026: floor debate, House

Votes

• March 12, 2026, House: Ought to Pass — yeas 181, nays 159, passed
• May 7, 2026, Senate: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1595s — voice vote, passed
• May 21, 2026, House: House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1595s — voice vote, passed

The Docket

Laws It Would Change

• RSA 40:14
• RSA 33:8-a

From the General Court

• Bill text
• Bill status page
• Docket
• HJ 1, page 7
• HC 10, page 63
• HJ 8, page 29
• SJ 7
• SC 12
• SC 17
• SJ 11
• HJ 14, page 21