HB 1689 — relative to the term of office for county officers in Belknap and Merrimack counties.

HB 1689 - AS INTRODUCEDAMENDED BY THE SENATE 03/26/2026 1204s SESSION 26-2769 12/08 HOUSE BILL 1689 AN ACT relative to the term of office for county officers in Belknap and Merrimack county.counties.

Municipal and County Government ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── AMENDED ANALYSIS This bill extends the term of office for certain elected county officers in Belknap and Merrimack countycounties to 4 years.

The bill also requires that the elections for such Merrimack county officers coincidescoincide with the presidential election every 4 years.

HB 1689 - AS INTRODUCEDAMENDED BY THE SENATE 03/26/2026 1204s 26-2769 12/08 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six AN ACT relative to the term of office for county officers in Belknap and Merrimack county.counties.

1 CountyElections; Elected Officers;

MerrimackState County;and County Officers to be Elected;

TermsElected Increased.for 2-Year Term;

Belknap and Merrimack County Officer Terms Increased.

and, provided that, at the 2026 state general election, and at each subsequent state general election, any such officer in Belknap county shall be chosen in the county by the voters for a 4-year term;

2 EffectiveThe Date.State and Its Government;

County Attorneys;

Election;

Temporary Vacancies.

Amend RSA 7:33 to read as follows:

7:33 Election;

Temporary Vacancies.

There shall be a county attorney for each county, who shall be a member of the New Hampshire bar, elected biennially by the voters of the county;

provided that, at the 2022 state general election, and at each subsequent state general election, the county attorney for Rockingham county shall be chosen in the county by the voters for a 4-year term;

and, provided that, at the 2024 state general election, and at each subsequent state general election, the county attorney for Coos county shall be chosen in the county by the voters for a 4-year term;

and, provided that, at the 2026 state general election, and at each subsequent state general election, the county attorney for Belknap county shall be chosen in the county by the voters for a 4-year term;

and provided that, at the 2028 state general election, and at each subsequent state general election, the county attorney for Merrimack county shall be chosen in the county by the voters for a 4-year term.

If the county attorney is absent at any term of court or unable to discharge the duties of the office, the superior court, acting as a body, shall appoint a county attorney, who shall be a member of the New Hampshire bar, for the time being and allow said appointee such compensation for his or her services as set by the county delegation.

3 Effective Date.