SB 643-FN (2026): requiring municipalities, towns, and cities to submit documentation to the department of revenue administration proving they are in compliance with local budget and tax caps and requiring municipalities to hold a public hearing and conduct a roll call vote when seeking to override a tax or spending cap.

SB 643-FN (2026)

requiring municipalities, towns, and cities to submit documentation to the department of revenue administration proving they are in compliance with local budget and tax caps and requiring municipalities to hold a public hearing and conduct a roll call vote when seeking to override a tax or spending cap.

• Status: Died: the chambers did not agree on a version
• Term: 2025-2026
• House committee: Municipal and County Government
• Senate committee: Election Law and Municipal Affairs
• Subject: Taxes - Local

The Story

It was introduced on January 7, 2026 and referred to the Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs committee. The committee held a public hearing on January 27, 2026. The committee voted 3–2 to recommend that the Senate pass it with changes (amendment 2026-0781s), and the report was placed on the consent calendar. The bill was taken off the consent calendar on March 5, 2026. The committee's amendment (2026-0781s) was rejected on a voice vote on March 5, 2026. A floor amendment (2026-0958s), offered by Sen. Timothy Lang, was adopted on a voice vote on March 5, 2026, changing the text of the bill. On March 5, 2026 the Senate voted to pass it with changes and ordered it to a third reading. It crossed to the House on March 12, 2026 and was referred to the House Municipal and County Government committee. The committee held a public hearing on April 7, 2026, with 92 people signed in online: 12 in support and 80 in opposition. The committee met in executive session on May 5, 2026 to vote on its recommendation. The majority recommended that the House pass it with changes (amendment 2026-1812h), and the minority recommended that the House kill it, by a vote of 11–9. The report was placed on the regular calendar. The committee's amendment (2026-1812h) was adopted on a voice vote on May 14, 2026, changing the text of the bill. On May 14, 2026 the House voted to pass it with changes on a roll call 164–150. On May 21, 2026 the Senate voted to reject the other chamber's changes on a voice vote, on a motion by Sen. James Gray.

Sponsors

• Sen. Kevin Avard (R - SD12) (prime sponsor)
• Rep. Liz Barbour (R - Hills 35)
• Sen. Timothy Lang (R - SD2)
• Sen. Keith Murphy (R - SD16)
• Rep. John Sellers (R - Graf 10)
• Sen. Victoria Sullivan (R - SD18)

Hearings and Sessions

• January 27, 2026, 9:30 AM: hearing, Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs, SH 122-123
• March 5, 2026: floor debate, Senate
• April 7, 2026, 11:00 AM: public hearing, House Municipal and County Government, GP 154
• May 5, 2026, 10:30 AM: executive session, House Municipal and County Government, GP 154
• May 14, 2026: floor debate, House
• May 21, 2026: floor debate, Senate

Votes

• March 5, 2026, Senate: Ought to Pass with Amendment — yeas 16, nays 8, passed
• May 14, 2026, House: Ought to Pass with Amendment — yeas 164, nays 150, passed
• May 21, 2026, Senate: Nonconcur with the House Amendment — voice vote, passed

The Docket

Laws It Would Change

• RSA 32
• RSA 21-J:34
• RSA 32:5-b
• RSA 32:5-e
• RSA 32:5-g
• RSA 32:2
• RSA 32:5-f
• RSA 32:5-h

Related Bills

• HB 1505-FN (2026): requiring municipalities, towns, and cities to submit documentation to the department of revenue administration proving they are in compliance with local budget and tax caps.
• HB 1505-FN (2026): requiring municipalities, towns, and cities to submit documentation to the department of revenue administration proving they are in compliance with local budget and tax caps.

From the General Court

• Bill text
• Bill status page
• Docket
• SJ 1
• SC 3
• SC 8
• SJ 5
• HJ 8, page 114
• HC 19, page 28
• HJ 13, pages 115 and 118
• SJ 13
• This page’s data as JSON