New Hampshire 2026 Session Status: Enacted 2 R cosponsors

HB 1187 — relative to the time in which candidates for state representative may file their candidacy for a special election.

Last action — Signed by Governor Ayotte 07/10/2026; Chapter 293; eff. 9/8/2026

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced December 01, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Kelly Ayotte (Republican) on July 16, 2026.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 54% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 2 sponsors

    1 primary, 1 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (2 R).

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

The bill changes the filing period for candidates in special elections for state representative.

This legislation modifies the timeline when candidates can submit their candidacy for special elections for state representatives. The change aims to streamline the election process.

Summary

relative to the time in which candidates for state representative may file their candidacy for a special election.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

20 added · 26 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendments made to HB 1187 clarify and streamline the candidate filing process for state representatives in special elections. Candidates can file their declarations with city or town clerks for a set period of 3 days, even if the clerk's office is not fully open during that time, as long as contact information for authorized officials is provided. This change is important because it aims to improve accessibility for candidates, ensuring that the filing process is more flexible and accommodating, which can ultimately encourage more individuals to run for office.

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Latest
HB 1187-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES 05/07/2026 1596s 4Jun2026...
CHAPTER 293 HB 1187-FN - FINAL VERSION 05/07/2026 1596s 4Jun2026...
HB 1187-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES 05/07/2026 1596s 4Jun2026...
CHAPTER 293 HB 1187-FN - FINAL VERSION 05/07/2026 1596s 4Jun2026...
1 Nomination of Candidates to the General Court;
293:1 Nomination of Candidates to the General Court;
and 2 Effective Date.
and 293:2 Effective Date.
LBA 26-2556 5/8/26 HB 1187-FN- FISCAL NOTE AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE (AMENDMENT #2026-1596s) AN ACT relative to the time in which candidates for state representative may file their candidacy for a special election.
Approved:
FISCAL IMPACT:
July 10, 2026 Effective Date:
The Legislative Budget Assistant has determined that this legislation has a total fiscal impact of less than $10,000 in each of the fiscal years 2026 through 2029.
September 08, 2026
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of State and New Hampshire Municipal Association
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Action History

  1. Signed by Governor Ayotte 07/10/2026; Chapter 293; eff. 9/8/2026

  2. Enrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026

  3. Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 15

  4. Conference Committee Report 2026-2096c: Adopted, VV 06/04/2026 HJ 15

  5. Conference Committee Report # 2026-2096c, Adopted, VV; 06/04/2026; SJ 14

  6. Conference Committee Report Filed, # 2026-2096c; 06/04/2026

  7. Conferee Change: Rep. Newsom Replaces Rep. Muirhead 05/27/2026 HJ 14

  8. Conference Committee Meeting: 05/27/2026 09:50 am GP 228

  9. President Appoints: Senators Gray, Lang, Perkins Kwoka; (In Recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13

  10. Sen. Gray Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; (In recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13

  11. Speaker Appoints: Reps. Berry, Qualey, Lane, Muirhead 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 151

  12. House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1596s and Requests CofC (Rep. Berry): MA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 151

  13. Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1596s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/07/2026; SJ 11

  14. Committee Amendment # 2026-1596s, AA, VV; 05/07/2026; SJ 11

  15. Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1596s, 05/07/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 17

  16. Hearing: 03/31/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 01:15 pm; SC 12

  17. Introduced 03/05/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 6

  18. Ought to Pass: MA VV 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 14

  19. Committee Report: Ought to Pass 02/03/2026 (Vote 16-0; CC) HC 9 P. 13

  20. ==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 02/17/2026 01:40 pm GP 158

  21. ==RECESSED== Executive Session: 02/10/2026 11:00 am GP 158

  22. Public Hearing: 02/03/2026 01:20 pm GP 158

  23. Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Election Law HJ 1 P. 9

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 413 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (1)

Not signed on (413)

413 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 413 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

elections
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HB 1187 do?
relative to the time in which candidates for state representative may file their candidacy for a special election.
Who sponsors HB 1187?
HB 1187 is sponsored by Ross Berry (Republican) and James Qualey (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 1187?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced December 01, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 1187?
Track HB 1187 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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