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HB 1163-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2026 SESSION
26-2654
08/05
HOUSE BILL
1163-FN
AN ACT
requiring the secretary of state to create and maintain a uniform election records management system.
SPONSORS: Rep. Bernardy, Rock. 36; Rep. Porcelli, Rock. 19; Sen. Gannon, Dist 23
COMMITTEE: Election Law
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires the secretary of state to create and maintain a uniform election records management system.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-2654
08/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT
requiring the secretary of state to create and maintain a uniform election records management system.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Subdivision; Election Procedure; Record Management. Amend RSA 659 by inserting after section 104 the following new subdivision:
Uniform Election Records Management System
659:105 Implementation of a Uniform Election Records Management System.
The secretary of state shall implement a uniform election records management system. The system shall permit accurate and complete recording of any information collected and shall meet all legal and regulatory requirements. The system shall:
I. Capture all records, paper and electronic;
II. Implement a uniform naming and indexing system;
III. Permit the ability to track record movement and activity of records for auditing and accountability while ensuring the chain of custody;
IV. Incorporate a uniform or identifiable retention system;
V. Permit efficient search and retrieval by authorized personnel, including New Hampshire citizens as legally permissible;
VI. Identify creation date, time if relevant, purpose, and authorization; and similarly for each updated document version; and
VII. Identify training requirements and effective dates.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
LBA
26-2654
11/6/25
HB 1163-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT
requiring the secretary of state to create and maintain a uniform election records management system.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This bill does not provide funding, nor does it authorize new positions.
Estimated State Impact
FY 2026
FY 2027
FY 2028
FY 2029
Revenue
$0
$0
$0
$0
Revenue Fund(s)
None
Expenditures*
$0
$200,000 to $500,000
$0
$0
Funding Source(s)
General Fund
Appropriations*
$0
$0
$0
$0
Funding Source(s)
None
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill
METHODOLOGY:
This bill requires the Secretary of State to implement a uniform election records management system designed to ensure the accurate, complete, and legally compliant recording of all collected information.
The Department of State already operates a records management system through the Division of Archives and Records Management limited to internal users, as it is not a public site. To meet the bill’s requirement of public access for citizens, the existing system would need to be significantly modified or expanded. The estimated one-time cost for this enhancement is between $200,000 and $500,000.
It is assumed that any fiscal impact would occur after FY 2026.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of State