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HB1601 • 2026

requiring the secretary of state to create a voter education program that includes information on recent changes to voting laws.

requiring the secretary of state to create a voter education program that includes information on recent changes to voting laws.

Education Elections
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Matthew Wilhelm (D), Ross Berry (R)
Last action
2026-05-07
Official status
SENATE
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.

requiring the secretary of state to create a voter education program that includes information on recent changes to voting laws.

requiring the secretary of state to create a voter education program that includes information on recent changes to voting laws.

What This Bill Does

  • requiring the secretary of state to create a voter education program that includes information on recent changes to voting laws.

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. 2026-05-07 S

    Refer to Interim Study, MA, VV; 05/07/2026; SJ 11

  2. 2026-04-22 S

    Committee Report: Referred to Interim Study, 05/07/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 17

  3. 2026-03-25 S

    Hearing: 03/31/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 09:15 am; SC 12

  4. 2026-03-17 S

    Introduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 7

  5. 2026-03-11 H

    Ought to Pass : MA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7

  6. 2026-03-04 H

    Committee Report: Ought to Pass 02/17/2026 (Vote 15-0; RC) HC 10 P. 44

  7. 2026-02-17 H

    Executive Session: 02/17/2026 01:40 pm GP 158

  8. 2026-02-05 H

    Public Hearing: 02/10/2026 10:20 am GP 158

  9. 2025-12-10 H

    Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Election Law HJ 1 P. 27

Official Summary Text

requiring the secretary of state to create a voter education program that includes information on recent changes to voting laws.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB 1601-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION
26-3189
08/06

HOUSE BILL
1601-FN

AN ACT
requiring the secretary of state to create a voter education program that includes information on recent changes to voting laws.

SPONSORS: Rep. Wilhelm, Hills. 21; Rep. Berry, Hills. 44

COMMITTEE: Election Law

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ANALYSIS

This bill requires the secretary of state to create a voter education program that includes information on recent changes to voting laws.

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

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.
26-3189
08/06

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT
requiring the secretary of state to create a voter education program that includes information on recent changes to voting laws.

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

1 Voter Education Program. The secretary of state is directed to create a voter education program in order to inform voters about recent changes to voting laws. The secretary of state shall use $50,000 in funds made available through the Help America Vote Act 2002, 52 U.S.C. section 20901 et seq. in order to create the program, develop materials, and make them available to voters in the state.

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

LBA
26-3189
12/4/25

HB 1601-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT
requiring the secretary of state to create a voter education program that includes information on recent changes to voting laws.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Estimated State Impact

FY 2026
FY 2027
FY 2028
FY 2029

Revenue
$0
$0
$0
$0

Revenue Fund(s)
None

Expenditures*
$0
$50,000
$0
$0

Funding Source(s)
Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Funds

Appropriations*
$0
$0
$0
$0

Funding Source(s)
None

*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill

METHODOLOGY:
This bill directs the Secretary of State to establish a voter education program to inform the public about recent changes to voting laws. To support this initiative, the Secretary shall allocate $50,000 from Help America Vote Act (HAVA) funds.

The Department of State notes that the Secretary already operates a comprehensive voter education program. It further indicates that restricting the initiative to $50,000 may limit the program’s outreach.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of State