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CACR13 • 2026

relating to registers of probate. Providing that the office of register of probate and all references to such office be eliminated.

relating to registers of probate. Providing that the office of register of probate and all references to such office be eliminated.

Elections
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Dennis Mannion (R), Jeffrey Tenczar (R), Tanya Donnelly (R), Catherine Rombeau (D), Katelyn Kuttab (R), Cindy Rosenwald (D), Aidan Ankarberg (I)
Last action
2026-03-26
Official status
SENATE
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on what happens after the elimination of the office, leaving these aspects uncertain.

Removing the Office of Register of Probate

This bill proposes to remove references to the office of register of probate from the New Hampshire Constitution.

What This Bill Does

  • Removes the position of register of probate and all references to it in Article 71 and Article 81 of the constitution.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Voters who will decide on the proposed constitutional changes during the November 2026 election.

Terms To Know

Constitutional Amendment
A change to a country's constitution that alters its fundamental laws and principles.
Selectmen
Elected officials who manage town or city affairs, including organizing elections.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens to the duties of the register of probate after elimination.
  • It is unclear how the removal will affect existing laws and regulations related to the office.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-26 S

    Ought to Pass, RC 23Y-1N, MA, by Necessary 3/5; OT3rdg; 03/26/2026 SJ 7

  2. 2026-03-19 S

    Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 03/26/2026, Vote 3-0; SC 11

  3. 2026-03-12 S

    Hearing: 03/18/2026, Room 103, SH, 10:00 am; SC 10

  4. 2026-02-09 S

    Introduced 02/05/2026 and Referred to Executive Departments and Administration; SJ 4

  5. 2026-02-05 H

    Ought to Pass : MA DV 325-15 By Necessary Three-Fifths Vote 02/05/2026 HJ 3 P. 51

  6. 2026-01-27 H

    Committee Report: Ought to Pass 01/21/2026 (Vote 13-2; RC) HC 5 P. 24

  7. 2026-01-21 H

    Executive Session: 01/21/2026 11:00 am GP 230

  8. 2026-01-08 H

    Public Hearing: 01/21/2026 11:00 am GP 230

  9. 2025-12-01 H

    Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Judiciary HJ 1 P. 40

Official Summary Text

relating to registers of probate.
Providing that the office of register of probate and all references to such office be eliminated.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
CACR 13 - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES

2026 SESSION
26-2597
12/08

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
13

RELATING TO:
registers of probate.

PROVIDING THAT:
the office of register of probate and all references to such office be eliminated.

SPONSORS: Rep. D. Mannion, Rock. 25; Rep. Rombeau, Hills. 2; Rep. Ankarberg, Straf. 7; Rep. Tenczar, Hills. 1; Rep. Kuttab, Rock. 17; Rep. Donnelly, Rock. 25; Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13

COMMITTEE: Judiciary

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ANALYSIS

This constitutional amendment concurrent resolution amends the constitution to delete the position of register of probate and all references to the position of register of probate.

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

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

26-2597
12/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

RELATING TO:
registers of probate.

PROVIDING THAT:
the office of register of probate and all references to such office be eliminated.

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

I. That article 71 of the second part of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
[Art.] 71. [County Treasurers, [
Registers of Probate,
] County Attorneys, Sheriffs, and Registers of Deeds Elected.] The county treasurers, [
registers of probate,
] county attorneys, sheriffs and registers of deeds, shall be elected by the inhabitants of the several towns, in the several counties in the state, according to the method now practiced, and the laws of the state, provided nevertheless the legislature shall have authority to alter the manner of certifying the votes, and the mode of electing those officers; but not so as to deprive the people of the right they now have of electing them.
II. That article 81 of the second part of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
[Art.] 81. [Judges [
and Registers of Probate
] Not to Act as Counsel.] No judge[
, or Register of Probate,
] shall be of counsel, act as advocate, or receive any fees as advocate or counsel, in any probate business which is pending, or may be brought into any court of probate in the county of which he
or she
is judge [
or Register
].
III. That the above amendments proposed to the constitution be submitted to the qualified voters of the state at the state general election to be held in November, 2026.
IV. 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.
V. That the wording of the question put to the qualified voters shall be:
“Are you in favor of eliminating the office of register of probate by amending articles 71 and 81 of the second part of the constitution to read as follows:
[Art.] 71. [County Treasurers, County Attorneys, Sheriffs, and Registers of Deeds Elected.] The county treasurers, county attorneys, sheriffs and registers of deeds, shall be elected by the inhabitants of the several towns, in the several counties in the State, according to the method now practiced, and the laws of the state, provided nevertheless the legislature shall have authority to alter the manner of certifying the votes, and the mode of electing those officers; but not so as to deprive the people of the right they now have of electing them.
[Art.] 81. [Judges Not to Act as Counsel.] No judge shall be of counsel, act as advocate, or receive any fees as advocate or counsel, in any probate business which is pending, or may be brought into any court of probate in the county of which he or she is judge.”
VI. 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.
VII. 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.
VIII. Voters' Guide.
AT THE PRESENT TIME, the constitution references registers of probate while the office's duties were redistributed to circuit court clerks in 2011.
IF THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED, the constitution will eliminate the position of register of probate.