New Hampshire 2026 Session Status: Enacted 12 R cosponsors

HB 1541 — requiring the secretary of state to provide all voting precincts with secure containers for storing ballots.

Last action — Signed by Governor Ayotte 07/15/2026; Chapter 327; eff. 01/01/2027

  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 10, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Kelly Ayotte (Republican) on July 20, 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

Likely to advance 62% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 12 sponsors

    1 primary, 11 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (12 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 requires secure ballot storage containers for all voting precincts.

This legislation mandates the secretary of state to supply secure containers for ballot storage at every voting precinct. It aims to enhance the security of ballots during elections.

Summary

requiring the secretary of state to provide all voting precincts with secure containers for storing ballots.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

28 added · 37 removed

Plain-language change summary

The latest version of HB 1541 requires the secretary of state to provide secure containers for storing ballots in all voting precincts. Key changes include adding specifications for the containers, such as being durable and tamper-evident, along with a requirement for the secretary to report on container usage annually. This amendment matters because it aims to enhance the security and reliability of ballot storage, ensuring voter confidence in the electoral process. Additionally, the effective date for these changes is set for January 1, 2027, giving adequate time for implementation.

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HB 1541-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES 04/09/2026 1313s 4Jun2026...
CHAPTER 327 HB 1541-FN - FINAL VERSION 04/09/2026 1313s 4Jun2026...
HB 1541-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES 04/09/2026 1313s 4Jun2026...
CHAPTER 327 HB 1541-FN - FINAL VERSION 04/09/2026 1313s 4Jun2026...
1 Secretary of State to Prepare Containers, Sealers.
327:1 Secretary of State to Prepare Containers, Sealers.
The secretary of state shall, before any state and federal election, prepare and distribute to each town and ward clerk secure, durable, reusable, transportable, stackable and marked containers to be used for preserving ballots with locks, tamper-evident [and] sealers [to seal each such container] and registration or serial numbers for each marked container.
The secretary of state shall, before any state and federal election, prepare and distribute to each town and ward clerk secure, durable, reusable, transportable, stackable and marked containers to be used for preserving ballots with locks, tamper- evident [and] sealers [to seal each such container] and registration or serial numbers for each marked container.
[He] The secretary of state shall prepare special durable and easily transportable containers capable of being secured and with tamper-evident sealers to be used for preserving any special and separate ballots for questions to voteThe secretary of state shall prescribe the size and form of such containers, locks and tamper-evident sealers and shall prescribe the form of any endorsement blank printed upon the sealers, provided that the blank is in substance consistent with the provisions of RSA 659:95.
[He] The secretary of state shall prepare special durable and easily transportable containers capable of being secured and with tamper-evident sealers to be used for preserving any special and separate ballots for questions to voters.
The secretary of state shall prescribe the size and form of such containers, locks and tamper-evident sealers and shall prescribe the form of any endorsement blank printed upon the sealers, provided that the blank is in substance consistent with the provisions of RSA 659:95.
2 Effective Date.
327:2 Effective Date.
LBA 26-2744 04/24/2026 HB 1541-FN- FISCAL NOTE AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE (AMENDMENT #2026-1313s) AN ACT requiring the secretary of state to provide all voting precincts with secure containers for storing ballots.
Approved:
FISCAL IMPACT:
July 15, 2026 Effective Date:
The Office of Legislative Budget Assistant states this bill has no additional fiscal impact on state, county and local expenditures or revenue as the Secretary of State's current operating budget can absorb the estimated expenditures related to this bill.
January 01, 2027
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of State
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Action History

  1. Signed by Governor Ayotte 07/15/2026; Chapter 327; eff. 01/01/2027

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

  3. Enrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15

  4. Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2177e: AA VV (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15

  5. Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2177e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/04/2026); SJ 14

  6. Conference Committee Report 2026-2091c: Adopted, VV 06/04/2026 HJ 15

  7. Conference Committee Report # 2026-2091c, Adopted, VV; 06/04/2026; SJ 14

  8. Conference Committee Report Filed, # 2026-2091c; 06/04/2026

  9. Conference Committee Meeting: 05/28/2026 10:00 am GP 228

  10. Conference Committee Meeting: 05/28/2026 10:00 am GP 228

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

  12. Conference Committee Meeting: 05/27/2026 10:40 am GP 228

  13. President Appoints: Senators Gray, Lang, Perkins Kwoka; (In Recess 05/07/2026); SJ 12

  14. Sen. Gray Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; (In recess 05/07/2026); SJ 12

  15. Speaker Appoints: Reps. Berry, Qualey, Lane, Muirhead 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 84

  16. House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1313s and Requests CofC (Rep. Berry): MA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 84

  17. Committee Amendment # 2026-1313s, AA, VV; 04/09/2026; SJ 8

  18. Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1313s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/09/2026; SJ 8

  19. Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1313s, 04/09/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 13

  20. Hearing: 03/31/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 09:00 am; SC 12

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

  22. Ought to Pass: MA VV 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 15

  23. Committee Report: Ought to Pass 02/10/2026 (Vote 17-0; CC) HC 9 P. 14

  24. Executive Session: 02/10/2026 11:00 am GP 158

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

  26. Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Election Law HJ 1 P. 25

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 11 co-sponsors · 403 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (11)

Not signed on (403)

403 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 403 →

"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 1541 do?
requiring the secretary of state to provide all voting precincts with secure containers for storing ballots.
Who sponsors HB 1541?
HB 1541 is sponsored by Tim McGough (Republican), Linda McGrath (Republican), Claudine Burnham (Republican), Susan Porcelli (Republican), Alvin See (Republican), Clayton Wood (Republican), Robert Wherry (Republican), Jeffrey Tenczar (Republican), Jodi Nelson (Republican), JD Bernardy (Republican), Daniel Innis (Republican), and Katelyn Kuttab (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 1541?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced December 10, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 1541?
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