HB 1541-FN (2026): requiring the secretary of state to provide all voting precincts with secure containers for storing ballots.

HB 1541-FN (2026)

requiring the secretary of state to provide all voting precincts with secure containers for storing ballots.

• Status: Signed into law
• Term: 2025-2026
• House committee: Election Law
• Senate committee: Election Law and Municipal Affairs
• Subject: Elections
• Chapter law: 327

The Story

It was introduced on January 7, 2026 and referred to the House Election Law committee. The committee held a public hearing on February 3, 2026, with 32 people signed in online: 29 in support, 2 in opposition and 1 as neutral. The committee met in executive session on February 10, 2026 to vote on its recommendation. The committee voted unanimously, 17–0, to recommend that the House pass it, and the report was placed on the consent calendar. On March 5, 2026 the House voted to pass it on a voice vote. 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 31, 2026. The committee voted unanimously, 5–0, to recommend that the Senate pass it with changes (amendment 2026-1313s), and the report was placed on the consent calendar. The committee's amendment (2026-1313s) was adopted on a voice vote on April 9, 2026, changing the text of the bill. On April 9, 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 2026-1313s and Requests CofC” on a voice vote, on a motion by Rep. Ross Berry. On May 7, 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 (2026-2091c) on a voice vote. On June 4, 2026 the House adopted the conference report (2026-2091c) on a voice vote. 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 (2026-2177e) was adopted on a voice vote to correct technical errors found after passage. The governor signed it on July 15, 2026, making it Chapter 327 of the session laws.

Sponsors

• Rep. Susan Porcelli (R - Rock 19) (prime sponsor)
• Rep. JD Bernardy (R - Rock 36)
• Rep. Claudine Burnham (R - Straf 2)
• Sen. Daniel Innis (R - SD7)
• Rep. Katelyn Kuttab (R - Rock 17)
• Sen. Tim McGough (R - SD11)
• Rep. Linda McGrath (R - Rock 40)
• Rep. Jodi Nelson (R - Rock 13)
• Rep. Alvin See (R - Merr 26)
• Rep. Jeffrey Tenczar (R - Hills 1)
• Rep. Robert Wherry (R - Hills 13)
• Rep. Clayton Wood (R - Merr 13)

Hearings and Sessions

• February 3, 2026, 3:20 PM: public hearing, House Election Law, GP 158
• February 10, 2026, 11:00 AM: executive session, House Election Law, GP 158
• March 5, 2026: consent calendar, House
• March 31, 2026, 9:00 AM: hearing, Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs, SH 122-123
• April 9, 2026: consent calendar, Senate
• April 23, 2026: floor debate, House
• May 7, 2026: floor debate, Senate
• May 27, 2026, 10:40 AM: committee of conference, GP 228
• May 28, 2026, 10:00 AM: committee of conference, GP 228

Votes

• March 5, 2026, House: Ought to Pass — voice vote, passed
• April 9, 2026, Senate: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1313s — voice vote, passed
• April 23, 2026, House: House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1313s and Requests CofC — voice vote, passed
• May 7, 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 — voice vote, passed

The Docket

Laws It Would Change

• RSA 659:97

From the General Court

• Bill text
• Bill status page
• Docket
• HJ 1, page 25
• HC 9, page 14
• HJ 6, page 15
• SJ 6
• SC 12
• SC 13
• SJ 8
• HJ 11, page 84
• SJ 12
• HJ 14, page 35
• SJ 14
• HJ 15, pages 12, 53 and 56
• SJ 15