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CACR11 • 2026

(New Title) relating to sheriffs. Providing that there shall be no age limitation for a person to hold the office of county sheriff.

(New Title) relating to sheriffs. Providing that there shall be no age limitation for a person to hold the office of county sheriff.

Elections
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Tara Reardon (D), Daryl Abbas (R)
Last action
2026-04-23
Official status
HOUSE
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details about what happens if the amendment is not approved by voters or how it will affect current sheriffs over seventy years old.

Removing Age Limit for County Sheriffs

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to remove the age limit requirement for people who want to become county sheriffs in New Hampshire.

What This Bill Does

  • Proposes a constitutional amendment eliminating the age limitation for individuals seeking to hold the office of county sheriff.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People interested in becoming a sheriff without an age restriction.
  • Voters who will decide on this proposed change during the November 2026 election.

Terms To Know

Constitutional Amendment
A change made to a country's or state’s constitution, which is its highest law.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if the voters do not approve the amendment.
  • It is unclear how this change will affect current sheriffs over seventy years old.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-23 H

    Ought to Pass: MF RC 199-157 Lacking Necessary Three-Fifths Vote 04/23/2026 HJ 11

  2. 2026-04-15 H

    Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass 04/08/2026 (Vote 7-5; RC)

  3. 2026-04-15 H

    Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate

  4. 2026-04-09 H

    Executive Session: 04/08/2026 10:00 am GP 159

  5. 2026-04-01 H

    Public Hearing: 04/08/2026 10:00 am GP 159

  6. 2026-03-27 H

    Introduced (in recess of) 03/26/2026 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 9

  7. 2026-03-26 S

    Committee Amendment #2026-1219s , AA, VV; 03/26/2026; SJ 7

  8. 2026-03-26 S

    Ought to Pass with Amendment s #2026-1219s , RC 23Y-1N, by necessary 3/5, MA; OT3rdg; 03/26/2026; SJ 7

  9. 2026-03-18 S

    Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1219s , 03/26/2026, Vote 4-0; SC 11

  10. 2026-02-12 S

    Hearing: 02/17/2026, Room 100, SH, 01:30 pm; SC 6

  11. 2025-11-21 S

    Introduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 1

Official Summary Text

(New Title) relating to sheriffs. Providing that there shall be no age limitation for a person to hold the office of county sheriff.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
CACR 11 - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

03/26/2026 1219s
2026 SESSION
26-2210
08/05

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
11

RELATING TO:
sheriffs.

PROVIDING THAT:
there shall be no age limitation for a person to hold the office of county sheriff.

SPONSORS: Sen. Reardon, Dist 15; Sen. Abbas, Dist 22

COMMITTEE: Judiciary

-----------------------------------------------------------------

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This constitutional amendment concurrent resolution eliminates the age limitation for sheriffs.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in
bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [
in brackets and struckthrough.
]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type

03/26/2026 1219s 26-2210
08/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

RELATING TO:
sheriffs.

PROVIDING THAT:
there shall be no age limitation for a person to hold the office of county sheriff.

Be it Resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring, that the
Constitution of New Hampshire be amended as follows:

I. That article 78 of the second part of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
[Art.] 78. [Judges [
and Sheriffs
], When Disqualified by Age.] No person shall hold the office of Judge of any Court[
,
] or Judge of Probate[
, or Sheriff of any county,
] after he has attained the age of seventy years.
II. That the above amendment proposed to the constitution be submitted to the qualified voters of the state at the state general election to be held in November 2026.
III. That the selectmen of all towns, cities, wards and places in the state are directed to insert in their warrants for the said 2026 election an article to the following effect: To decide whether the amendments of the constitution proposed by the 2026 session of the general court shall be approved.
IV. That the wording of the question put to the qualified voters shall be:
“Are you in favor of amending article 78 of the second part of the constitution to read as follows:
[Art.] 78. [Judges, When Disqualified by Age.] No person shall hold the office of Judge of any Court or Judge of Probate after he has attained the age of seventy years.”
V. That the secretary of state shall print the question to be submitted on a separate ballot with other constitutional questions or on the official ballot. The ballot containing the question shall include 2 ovals next to the question allowing the voter to vote “Yes” or “No.” If no oval is marked, the ballot shall not be counted on the question. The outside of the ballot shall be the same as the regular official ballot except that the words “Questions Relating to Constitutional Amendments proposed by the 2026 General Court” shall be printed in bold type at the top of the ballot.
VI. That if the proposed amendment is approved by 2/3 of those voting on the amendment, it becomes effective when the governor proclaims its adoption.
VII. Voters' Guide.
AT THE PRESENT TIME, no person may be a sheriff after he or she has turned seventy years old.
IF THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED, there shall be no age limitation on the office of sheriff.