HB 590 (2026): relative to cooperative school district school board elections.

HB 590 (2026)

relative to cooperative school district school board elections.

• Status: Killed
• Term: 2025-2026
• House committee: Election Law
• Senate committee: Election Law and Municipal Affairs
• Subject: Elections

The Story

It was introduced on January 9, 2025 and referred to the House Election Law committee. The committee held a public hearing on February 25, 2025, with 180 people signed in online: 10 in support, 169 in opposition and 1 as neutral. The committee met in executive session on March 4, 2025 and March 18, 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 committee voted 15–2 to recommend that the House pass it with changes (amendment 2025-2934h), and the report was placed on the consent calendar. On January 8, 2026 the House adopted “Recommit” on a voice vote, on a motion by Rep. Ross Berry. The majority recommended that the House pass it with changes (amendment 2026-1066h), and the minority recommended that the House kill it, by a vote of 9–8. The report was placed on the regular calendar. The committee's amendment (2026-1066h) 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 division vote 181–149. 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 March 31, 2026. The committee voted unanimously, 4–0, to recommend that the Senate kill it. On April 16, 2026 the Senate voted to kill it on a voice vote.

Sponsors

• Rep. Louise Andrus (R - Merr 5) (prime sponsor)
• Rep. Jose Cambrils (R - Merr 4)
• Rep. Riché Colcombe (R - Hills 30)
• Rep. Barbara Comtois (R - Belk 7)
• Rep. Kristine Perez (R - Rock 16)
• Rep. Alvin See (R - Merr 26)
• Rep. Len Turcotte (R - Straf 4)
• Rep. Clayton Wood (R - Merr 13)
• Sen. Daniel Innis (R - SD7)
• Sen. Howard Pearl (R - SD17)

Hearings and Sessions

• February 25, 2025, 10:20 AM: public hearing, House Election Law, LOB 306-308
• March 4, 2025, 1:00 PM: executive session, House Election Law, LOB 306-308
• March 18, 2025, 10:00 AM: executive session, House Election Law, LOB 306-308
• September 16, 2025, 10:15 AM: executive session, House Election Law, GP 158
• January 8, 2026: floor debate, House
• March 11, 2026: floor debate, House
• March 31, 2026, 10:00 AM: hearing, Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs, SH 122-123
• April 16, 2026: consent calendar, Senate

Votes

• January 8, 2026, House: Recommit — voice vote, passed
• March 11, 2026, House: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-1066h — yeas 181, nays 149, passed
• April 16, 2026, Senate: Inexpedient to Legislate — voice vote, passed

The Docket

Laws It Would Change

• RSA 195:19-b
• RSA 195:19-a

From the General Court

• Bill text
• Bill status page
• Docket
• HC 51, page 8
• HJ 1, page 43
• HJ 2, page 71
• HC 10, page 39
• HJ 7, pages 142 and 143
• SJ 7
• SC 12
• SC 14
• SJ 9