HB 1526 (2026): relative to the adopting of a municipal budget committee and electing members thereof.

HB 1526 (2026)

relative to the adopting of a municipal budget committee and electing members thereof.

• 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 30, 2026, with 2 people signed in online: 1 in support and 1 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 with changes (amendment 2026-0694h), and the minority recommended that the House kill it, by a vote of 10–7. The report was placed on the regular calendar. The committee's amendment (2026-0694h) was adopted on a division vote 186–153 on March 12, 2026, changing the text of the bill. On March 12, 2026 the House voted to pass it with changes on a division vote 187–158. 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 14, 2026. On April 23, 2026 the Senate adopted “Refer to Interim Study” on a voice vote. 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.

Sponsors

• Rep. Robert Wherry (R - Hills 13) (prime sponsor)
• Rep. Claudine Burnham (R - Straf 2)
• Rep. Susan DeRoy (R - Straf 3)
• Rep. Lisa Freeman (R - Belk 8)
• Rep. Tom Mannion (R - Hills 1)
• Rep. Mary Murphy (R - Hills 27)
• Rep. Diane Pauer (R - Hills 36)
• Rep. John Sellers (R - Graf 10)
• Rep. Clayton Wood (R - Merr 13)

Hearings and Sessions

• January 30, 2026, 10:30 AM: 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
• April 14, 2026, 10:00 AM: hearing, Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs, SH 122-123
• April 23, 2026: consent calendar, Senate

Votes

• March 12, 2026, House: Adopt Committee Amendment — yeas 186, nays 153, passed
• March 12, 2026, House: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-0694h — yeas 187, nays 158, passed
• April 23, 2026, Senate: Refer to Interim Study — voice vote, passed

The Docket

Laws It Would Change

• RSA 32:14
• RSA 32:15
• RSA 195:12-a

Related Bills

• SB 653 (2026): enabling counties to change the dates of their biennial budgets and relative to the adopting of a municipal budget committee and electing members thereof.
• SB 653 (2026): enabling counties to change the dates of their biennial budgets and relative to the adopting of a municipal budget committee and electing members thereof.

From the General Court

• Bill text
• Bill status page
• Docket
• HJ 1, page 24
• HC 10, page 69
• HJ 8, pages 46 and 47
• SJ 7
• SC 14
• SJ 10
• SC 15