HB 1134 (2026): relative to the town meeting form of local governance.

HB 1134 (2026)

relative to the town meeting form of local governance.

• Status: Referred for interim study
• 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 7, 2026 and referred to the House Municipal and County Government committee. The committee held a public hearing on January 23, 2026, with 22 people signed in online: 5 in support and 17 in opposition. The committee met in executive session on February 3, 2026 to vote on its recommendation. The majority recommended that the House pass it with changes (amendment 2026-0204h), and the minority recommended that the House kill it, by a vote of 10–8. The report was placed on the regular calendar. On March 5, 2026 the House adopted “Lay HB1134 on Table” on a division vote 154–167, on a motion by Rep. Jim Maggiore. The committee's amendment (2026-0204h) was adopted on a voice vote on March 5, 2026, changing the text of the bill. On March 5, 2026 the House voted to pass it with changes on a division vote 168–156. It crossed to the Senate on March 5, 2026 and was referred to the Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs committee. The committee held a public hearing on March 18, 2026. The committee voted unanimously, 5–0, to recommend that the Senate study it after the session ends, and the report was placed on the consent calendar. On April 9, 2026 the Senate adopted “Refer to Interim Study” on a voice vote.

Sponsors

• Rep. Diane Pauer (R - Hills 36) (prime sponsor)
• Rep. Keith Ammon (R - Hills 42)
• Sen. Kevin Avard (R - SD12)
• Rep. Lex Berezhny (R - Graf 11)
• Rep. Susan DeRoy (R - Straf 3)
• Rep. Keith Erf (R - Hills 28)
• Rep. Michael Granger (R - Straf 2)
• Rep. Juliet Harvey-Bolia (R - Belk 3)
• Rep. Richard Lascelles (R - Hills 14)
• Rep. Melissa Litchfield (R - Rock 32)
• Sen. Keith Murphy (R - SD16)
• Rep. Rich Nalevanko (R - Ches 9)

Hearings and Sessions

• January 23, 2026, 9:35 AM: public hearing, House Municipal and County Government, GP 154
• February 3, 2026, 11:15 AM: executive session, House Municipal and County Government, GP 153
• March 5, 2026: floor debate, House
• March 18, 2026, 1:00 PM: hearing, Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs, SH 103
• April 9, 2026: consent calendar, Senate

Votes

• March 5, 2026, House: Lay HB1134 on Table — yeas 154, nays 167, passed
• March 5, 2026, House: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-0204h — yeas 168, nays 156, passed
• April 9, 2026, Senate: Refer to Interim Study — voice vote, passed

The Docket

Laws It Would Change

• RSA 40:11
• RSA 40:13

From the General Court

• Bill text
• Bill status page
• Docket
• HJ 1, page 7
• HC 9, page 43
• HJ 6, page 125
• SJ 6
• SC 10
• SC 13
• SJ 8