HB 1306 (2026): relative to the counting of absentee ballots.

HB 1306 (2026)

relative to the counting of absentee ballots.

• Status: Signed into law
• Term: 2025-2026
• House committee: Election Law
• Senate committee: Election Law and Municipal Affairs
• Subject: Elections
• Chapter law: 299

The Story

It was introduced on January 7, 2026 and referred to the House Election Law committee. The committee held a public hearing on January 27, 2026, with 28 people signed in online: 18 in support and 10 in opposition. The committee met in executive session on March 3, 2026 to vote on its recommendation. The majority recommended that the House pass it with changes (amendment 2026-0635h), and the minority recommended that the House kill it, by a vote of 13–4. The report was placed on the regular calendar. The committee's amendment (2026-0635h) was adopted on a voice vote on March 11, 2026, changing the text of the bill. On March 11, 2026 the House voted to pass it with changes on a voice vote. 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 April 1, 2026. The committee voted unanimously, 5–0, to recommend that the Senate pass it with changes (amendment 2026-1506s), and the report was placed on the consent calendar. The committee's amendment (2026-1506s) was adopted on a voice vote on April 23, 2026, changing the text of the bill. On April 23, 2026 the Senate voted to pass it with changes on a voice vote and ordered it to a third reading. On April 23, 2026 the House adopted “House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1506s and Requests CofC” on a voice vote, on a motion by Rep. Ross Berry. On May 21, 2026 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 May 27, 2026 and May 28, 2026 to try to settle the differences between the two chambers' versions of the bill. The Senate adopted the conference report (2026-2110c) on a voice vote. On June 4, 2026 the House adopted the conference report (2026-2110c) on a division vote 205–144. The bill was enrolled on June 4, 2026 — the final check of the text before it goes to the governor — and an enrolled bill amendment (2026-2174e) was adopted on a voice vote to correct technical errors found after passage. The governor signed it on July 10, 2026, making it Chapter 299 of the session laws.

Sponsors

• Rep. Claudine Burnham (R - Straf 2) (prime sponsor)
• Rep. Susan DeRoy (R - Straf 3)
• Sen. James Gray (R - SD6)
• Rep. Robert Wherry (R - Hills 13)
• Rep. Clayton Wood (R - Merr 13)

Hearings and Sessions

• January 27, 2026, 2:00 PM: public hearing, House Election Law, GP 158
• March 3, 2026, 10:00 AM: executive session, House Election Law, GP 158
• March 11, 2026: floor debate, House
• April 1, 2026, 1:45 PM: hearing, Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs, SH 103
• April 23, 2026: consent calendar, Senate
• May 21, 2026: floor debate, Senate
• May 27, 2026, 10:20 AM: committee of conference, GP 228
• May 28, 2026, 10:00 AM: committee of conference, GP 228

Votes

• March 11, 2026, House: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-0635h — voice vote, passed
• April 23, 2026, Senate: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1506s — voice vote, passed
• April 23, 2026, House: House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1506s and Requests CofC — voice vote, passed
• May 21, 2026, Senate: Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference — voice vote, passed
• May 29, 2026, Senate: Adopt Conference Committee Report — voice vote, passed
• June 4, 2026, House: Adopt Conference Committee Report — yeas 205, nays 144, passed

The Docket

Laws It Would Change

• RSA 657
• RSA 658:32

From the General Court

• Bill text
• Bill status page
• Docket
• HJ 1, page 14
• HC 10, page 42
• HJ 7, page 157
• SJ 7
• SC 12
• SC 15
• SJ 10
• HJ 11, page 84
• SJ 13
• HJ 14, page 36
• SJ 14
• HJ 15, pages 15, 49 and 56
• SJ 15