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HB158 • 2026

(New Title) requiring the secretary of state to review absentee ballot data biennially, forward certain requests to the election law unit for review, and make a report to the general court.

(New Title) requiring the secretary of state to review absentee ballot data biennially, forward certain requests to the election law unit for review, and make a report to the general court.

Elections
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Gregory Hill (R), Ross Berry (R), Howard Pearl (r), JD Bernardy (R), Stephen Boyd (R), Kevin Avard (R), Joe Sweeney (R), Thomas Walsh (R), Mark McConkey (R), Kevin Verville (R), Vanessa Sheehan (R)
Last action
2026-07-01
Official status
PASSED
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

(New Title) requiring the secretary of state to review absentee ballot data biennially, forward certain requests to the election law unit for review, and make a report to the general court.

(New Title) requiring the secretary of state to review absentee ballot data biennially, forward certain requests to the election law unit for review, and make a report to the general court.

What This Bill Does

  • (New Title) requiring the secretary of state to review absentee ballot data biennially, forward certain requests to the election law unit for review, and make a report to the general court.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-07-01 H

    Enrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026

  2. 2026-06-29 S

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

  3. 2026-06-04 H

    Conference Committee Report 2026-2100c: Adopted, VV 06/04/2026 HJ 15

  4. 2026-05-29 S

    Conference Committee Report #2026-2100c , Adopted, VV; 06/04/2026; SJ 14

  5. 2026-05-28 S

    Conference Committee Report Filed, #2026-2100c ; 06/04/2026

  6. 2026-05-27 H

    Conference Committee Meeting: 05/27/2026 09:00 am GP 228

  7. 2026-05-13 S

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

  8. 2026-05-13 S

    President Appoints: Senators Gray, Lang, Long; (In Recess 05/07/2026); SJ 12

  9. 2026-05-05 H

    House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1214s and Requests CofC (Rep. Berry): MA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11

  10. 2026-05-05 H

    Speaker Appoints: Reps. Berry, Qualey, Burnham, Wood 04/23/2026 HJ 11

  11. 2026-03-20 S

    Committee Amendment #2026-1214s , AA, VV; 03/26/2026; SJ 7

  12. 2026-03-20 S

    Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1214s , MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/26/2026; SJ 7

  13. 2026-03-18 S

    Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1214s , 03/26/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 11

  14. 2026-02-11 S

    Hearing: 02/17/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 09:15 am; SC 6

  15. 2026-01-30 S

    Introduced 01/29/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 3

  16. 2026-01-07 H

    Ought to Pass : MA DV 179-157 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 157

  17. 2025-11-14 H

    Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass 09/16/2025 (Vote 10-7; RC) HC 51 P. 30

  18. 2025-11-14 H

    Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate

  19. 2025-08-25 H

    Executive Session: 09/16/2025 10:15 am GP 158

  20. 2025-03-12 H

    Retained in Committee

  21. 2025-03-06 H

    Executive Session: 03/11/2025 09:00 am LOB 306-308

  22. 2025-02-27 H

    ==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 03/04/2025 01:00 pm LOB 306-308

  23. 2025-02-12 H

    ==RECESSED== Executive Session: 02/18/2025 10:10 am LOB 306-308

  24. 2025-02-07 H

    ==RECESSED== Executive Session: 02/11/2025 10:10 am LOB 306-308

  25. 2025-01-29 H

    Public Hearing: 02/04/2025 11:00 am LOB 306-308

  26. 2025-01-06 H

    Introduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Election Law HJ 2 P. 8

Official Summary Text

(New Title) requiring the secretary of state to review absentee ballot data biennially, forward certain requests to the election law unit for review, and make a report to the general court.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB 158 - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES

03/26/2026 1214s
4Jun2026... 2100CofC
2025 SESSION
25-0680
08/09

HOUSE BILL
158

AN ACT
requiring the secretary of state to review absentee ballot data biennially, forward certain requests to the election law unit for review, and make a report to the general court.

SPONSORS: Rep. Hill, Merr. 2; Rep. Bernardy, Rock. 36; Rep. Sweeney, Rock. 25; Rep. Verville, Rock. 2; Rep. Berry, Hills. 44; Rep. S. Boyd, Merr. 10; Rep. T. Walsh, Merr. 10; Rep. Sheehan, Hills. 43; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17; Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Sen. McConkey, Dist 3

COMMITTEE: Election Law

─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill requires the secretary of state to review absentee ballot data biennially, forward certain requests to the election law unit for review, and make a report to the general court.

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

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 1214s
4Jun2026... 2100CofC

25-0680
08/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five

AN ACT
requiring the secretary of state to review absentee ballot data biennially, forward certain requests to the election law unit for review, and make a report to the general court.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 New Paragraph; Addresses Receiving Multiple Absentee Ballots. Amend RSA 657:15 by inserting after paragraph I the following new paragraph:
I-a. The secretary of state shall review absentee ballot data after each general election to identify absentee ballot requests that should be forwarded to the department of justice, election law unit for an investigative review. This review shall include requests by multiple voters that are sent to a common address. The secretary shall provide the committees of jurisdiction a report of the number and category of requests forwarded for investigative review.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.