PRIA Logo™
New HampshireHB2282025-2026 Regular SessionHouse

HB228

Sponsored By: Diane Pauer (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Equal speaking time for petition sponsors

At town and school district meetings, the moderator must let the primary petitioner introduce the petitioned article. The moderator must give the primary petitioner the same time as the longest time given to the governing body or budget committee to introduce any article. The primary petitioner may name any registered voter to act as the primary by giving the moderator written notice.

Voters can add articles to warrants

For town annual meetings, selectmen must place your petitioned article on the warrant if a written application is filed by the fifth Tuesday before the meeting and has 25 voters or 2% of registered voters, whichever is less, but at least 10. The voter count uses registrations before the last state general election. For school districts, the board must add a petitioned article if a written application is filed at least 30 days before the meeting or by the second Tuesday in March, whichever is earlier, and has 25 voters or 2% of district voters, but at least 10. Boards can make only small text fixes and cannot change the article’s effect. No new articles are added after the warrant is posted. You may name a primary petitioner; if not, the first signer is the primary.

How voters call special meetings

Selectmen must warn a special town meeting when voters apply in time and meet the signature rules. Towns under 10,000 need 50 voters or one-quarter of voters, whichever is less. Towns with 10,000 or more need 5% of registered voters. The application must be filed at least 60 days before the next annual meeting. The supervisors correct the voter checklist, and only names on the corrected list may vote. The same checklist is used if the meeting is recessed and reconvened. No special town meeting is held on the biennial election day. For school districts, 50 voters or one-quarter of voters, whichever is less, can trigger a special meeting. A special school district meeting is not held with the biennial election unless a court approves and the district uses the official ballot referendum form of meeting.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Diane Pauer

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Anita D Burroughs

    Democratic • House

  • Daniel T. Veilleux

    Democratic • House

  • James L Creighton

    Republican • House

  • John Sellers

    Republican • House

  • Juliet Harvey-Bolia

    Republican • House

  • Kevin A. Avard

    Republican • Senate

  • Rich� Colcombe

    Republican • House

  • Tim McGough

    Republican • Senate

  • Wayne D. MacDonald

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor Ayotte 07/15/2025; Chapter 173; eff. 09/13/2025 HJ 18

    7/22/2025House

  2. Enrolled (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 59

    7/7/2025House

  3. Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/26/2025); SJ 18

    7/3/2025Senate

  4. House Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-2165s (Rep. Pauer): MA VV 06/12/2025 HJ 17 P. 14

    6/12/2025House

  5. Committee Amendment # 2025-2165s, AA, VV; 05/22/2025; SJ 14

    5/22/2025Senate

  6. Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-2165s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/22/2025; SJ 14

    5/22/2025Senate

  7. Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2165s, 05/22/2025; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 22

    5/14/2025Senate

  8. Hearing: 05/13/2025, Room 103, LOB, 09:15 am; SC 21

    5/7/2025Senate

  9. Introduced 03/27/2025 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 10

    3/28/2025Senate

  10. Ought to Pass: MA VV 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 43

    3/26/2025House

  11. Committee Report: Ought to Pass 03/10/2025 (Vote 18-0; CC) HC 17 P. 23

    3/19/2025House

  12. Executive Session: 03/10/2025 09:30 am LOB 301-303

    3/5/2025House

  13. Public Hearing: 02/27/2025 02:30 pm LOB 301-303

    2/19/2025House

  14. Introduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Municipal and County Government HJ 2 P. 11

    1/7/2025House

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    7/3/2025

    HTML

  • Introduced

    1/7/2025

    PDF

  • CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION

    PDF

  • Version adopted by both bodies

    PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation