HB 1131 — relative to the official ballot referendum form of town meetings.

HB 1131 - AS INTRODUCEDAMENDED BY THE SENATE 05/07/2026 1595s SESSION 26-2284 08/07 HOUSE BILL 1131 AN ACT relative to the official ballot referendum form of town meetings.

Municipal and County Government ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── AMENDED ANALYSIS This bill amendsrequires thethat methodquestions ofproposing adoptingto adopt an official ballot referendum form of meeting.meeting be placed first on annual meeting warrants.

HB 1131 - AS INTRODUCEDAMENDED BY THE SENATE 05/07/2026 1595s 26-2284 08/07 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six AN ACT relative to the official ballot referendum form of town meetings.

1 MethodGovernment of AdoptingTown OfficialMeeting; Ballot Referendum Form of Meeting.

Optional Form of Meeting-Official Ballot Referenda;

Method of Adopting Official Ballot Referendum Form of Meeting.

The local political subdivision shall place the question on the warrant of the annual meeting under the procedures set out in RSA 39:3 or RSA 197:6,197:6. and the question shall be voted on by official ballot in accordance with the procedures established in RSA 669:19-29, RSA 670:5-7, and RSA 671:20-30, including all requirements pertaining to absentee voting, polling places, and polling hours.

[VotingThe on the question shall be by ballot, but the question shall not be placed first on the officialwarrant. ballot used to elect officers.

PollsVoting shallon remainthe openquestion and ballots shall be accepted by theballot, moderatorbut forthe aquestion periodshall of not lessbe thanplaced one hour following the completion of discussion on the question.]official 2ballot Methodused ofto Adoptingelect Officialofficers. Ballot Referendum Form of Meeting.

AmendPolls RSAshall 40:14,remain VIIopen toand readballots asshall follows:be accepted by the moderator for a period of not less than one hour following the completion of discussion on the question.

VII.2 Municipal Finance Act;

AnyProcedure localfor politicalAuthorizing subdivisionBonds whichor hasNotes adopted RSA 40:13 may consider rescinding its action in theExcess mannerof described$100,000. in paragraphs III-VI[, except that the question shall be placed on the official ballot].

TheAmend wordingRSA of33:8-a, theII questionto shallread be:as follows:

"ShallII. we rescind the provisions of RSA 40:13 (known as SB 2), as adopted by the (local political subdivision) on (date of adoption), so that the official ballot will no longer be used for voting on all questions, but only for the election of officers and certain other questions for which the official ballot is required by state law?" A 3/5 majority of those voting on the question shall be required to rescind the provisions of this subdivision, except in the case of repeal by charter enactment under RSA 49-D.

OnlyAll votesarticles appearing in the affirmativewarrant which propose a bond or negativenote issue exceeding $100,000 shall appear in consecutive numerical order and shall be includedacted inupon prior to other business except the calculationelection of officers, action on the 3/5adoption, majority.revision, or amendment of a municipal charter, adoption of the official ballot referendum form of town meeting, and zoning matters or as otherwise determined by the voters at the meeting.

Polls shall remain open and ballots shall be accepted by the moderator on each such article, for a period of not less than one hour following the completion of discussion on each respective article.

A separate ballot box shall be provided for each bond article to be voted upon pursuant to this section.

This act shall take effect 60July days1, after2026. its passage.