HB 317 (2026): allowing a supervisor of the checklist to verify a person's identity, with identification, if they personally know that person.

HB 317 (2026)

allowing a supervisor of the checklist to verify a person's identity, with identification, if they personally know that person.

• Status: Signed into law
• Term: 2025-2026
• House committee: Election Law
• Senate committee: Election Law and Municipal Affairs
• Subject: Elections
• Chapter law: 284

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 18, 2025, with 299 people signed in online: 15 in support and 284 in opposition. The committee held a work session on March 7, 2025. The committee met in executive session on March 11, 2025 to vote on its recommendation. 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 187–150. 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 10, 2026. The committee voted unanimously, 4–0, to recommend that the Senate pass it with changes (amendment 2026-1015s), and the report was placed on the consent calendar. The bill was taken off the consent calendar on March 12, 2026. The committee's amendment (2026-1015s) was adopted on a voice vote on March 12, 2026, changing the text of the bill. A floor amendment (2026-1083s), offered by Sen. James Gray, was adopted on a voice vote on March 12, 2026, changing the text of the bill. On March 12, 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 2026-1015s and 2026-1083s 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 (2026-2098c) on a voice vote. On June 4, 2026 the House adopted the conference report (2026-2098c) on a roll call 197–159. 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 284 of the session laws.

Sponsors

• Rep. Claudine Burnham (R - Straf 2) (prime sponsor)
• Rep. Aidan Ankarberg (I - Straf 7)
• Rep. Kelley Potenza (R - Straf 19)
• Rep. Robert Wherry (R - Hills 13)
• Rep. Clayton Wood (R - Merr 13)
• Rep. Sandra Panek (R - Hills 1)

Hearings and Sessions

• February 18, 2025, 3:20 PM: public hearing, House Election Law, LOB 306-308
• March 7, 2025, 1:00 PM: subcommittee work 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 10, 2026, 9:45 AM: hearing, Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs, SH 122-123
• March 12, 2026: floor debate, Senate
• April 23, 2026: floor debate, House
• May 7, 2026: floor debate, Senate
• May 27, 2026, 9:20 AM: committee of conference, GP 228
• June 4, 2026: floor debate, House

Votes

• January 7, 2026, House: Ought to Pass — yeas 187, nays 150, passed
• March 12, 2026, Senate: Ought to Pass with Amendments #2026-1015s and #2026-1083s — voice vote, passed
• April 23, 2026, House: House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1015s and 2026-1083s 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 — yeas 197, nays 159, passed

The Docket

Laws It Would Change

• RSA 654:12
• RSA 659:13

From the General Court

• Bill text
• Bill status page
• Docket
• HC 51, page 31
• HJ 1, page 157
• SC 5
• SC 9
• SJ 6
• HJ 11, page 83
• SJ 12
• HJ 14, page 35
• SJ 14
• HJ 15, pages 13 and 56
• SJ 15