HB 158 (2026): requiring the secretary of state to review absentee ballot data biennially, forward certain requests to the election law unit for review, and make a report to the general court.

HB 158 (2026)

requiring the secretary of state to review absentee ballot data biennially, forward certain requests to the election law unit for review, and make a report to the general court.

• Status: Signed into law
• Term: 2025-2026
• House committee: Election Law
• Senate committee: Election Law and Municipal Affairs
• Subject: Elections
• Chapter law: 281

The Story

It was introduced on January 8, 2025 and referred to the House Election Law committee. The committee held a public hearing on February 4, 2025, with 175 people signed in online: 63 in support and 112 in opposition. The committee met in executive session on February 11, 2025, February 18, 2025, March 4, 2025 and March 11, 2025. The committee retained the bill, holding it for further work rather than reporting it out this year. The committee met in executive session on September 16, 2025 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 January 7, 2026 the House voted to pass it on a division vote 179–157. It crossed to the Senate on January 29, 2026 and was referred to the Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs committee. The committee held a public hearing on February 17, 2026. The committee voted unanimously, 5–0, to recommend that the Senate pass it with changes (amendment 2026-1214s), and the report was placed on the consent calendar. The committee's amendment (2026-1214s) was adopted on a voice vote on March 26, 2026, changing the text of the bill. On March 26, 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 2026-1214s 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 to try to settle the differences between the two chambers' versions of the bill. The Senate adopted the conference report (2026-2100c) on a voice vote. On June 4, 2026 the House adopted the conference report (2026-2100c) on a voice vote. The bill was enrolled on June 4, 2026 — the final check of the text before it goes to the governor. The governor signed it on July 10, 2026, making it Chapter 281 of the session laws.

Sponsors

• Rep. Gregory Hill (R - Merr 2) (prime sponsor)
• Rep. JD Bernardy (R - Rock 36)
• Rep. Joe Sweeney (R - Rock 25)
• Rep. Kevin Verville (R - Rock 2)
• Rep. Ross Berry (R - Hills 44)
• Rep. Stephen Boyd (R - Merr 10)
• Rep. Thomas Walsh (R - Merr 10)
• Rep. Vanessa Sheehan (R - Hills 43)
• Sen. Howard Pearl (R - SD17)
• Sen. Kevin Avard (R - SD12)
• Sen. Mark McConkey (R - SD3)

Hearings and Sessions

• February 4, 2025, 11:00 AM: public hearing, House Election Law, LOB 306-308
• February 11, 2025, 10:10 AM: executive session, House Election Law, LOB 306-308
• February 18, 2025, 10:10 AM: executive session, House Election Law, LOB 306-308
• March 4, 2025, 1:00 PM: executive session, House Election Law, LOB 306-308
• March 11, 2025, 9:00 AM: executive session, House Election Law, LOB 306-308
• September 16, 2025, 10:15 AM: executive session, House Election Law, GP 158
• January 7, 2026: floor debate, House
• February 17, 2026, 9:15 AM: hearing, Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs, SH 122-123
• March 26, 2026: consent calendar, Senate
• April 23, 2026: floor debate, House
• May 7, 2026: floor debate, Senate
• May 27, 2026, 9:00 AM: committee of conference, GP 228

Votes

• January 7, 2026, House: Ought to Pass — yeas 179, nays 157, passed
• March 26, 2026, Senate: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1214s — voice vote, passed
• April 23, 2026, House: House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1214s 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 657:15

From the General Court

• Bill text
• Bill status page
• Docket
• HC 51, page 30
• HJ 1, page 157
• SC 6
• SC 11
• SJ 7
• HJ 11, page 83
• SJ 12
• SJ 14
• HJ 15, pages 12 and 56
• SJ 15