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HB 686-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
11Mar2026... 0972h
2025 SESSION
25-0502
07/08
HOUSE BILL
686-FN
AN ACT
prohibiting certain public entities from conducting or sponsoring political surveys, polls, or questionnaires in their official capacities.
SPONSORS: Rep. Potenza, Straf. 19; Rep. Ankarberg, Straf. 7; Rep. Berry, Hills. 44; Rep. Burnham, Straf. 2; Rep. DeRoy, Straf. 3; Rep. Kuttab, Rock. 17; Rep. Turcotte, Straf. 4; Rep. Wherry, Hills. 13
COMMITTEE: Election Law
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill prohibits certain public entities from conducting or sponsoring political surveys, polls, or questionnaires in their official capacities. This bill also exempts from such prohibition any surveys, polls, or questionnaires conducted by institutions of higher education.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
11Mar2026... 0972h 25-0502
07/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT
prohibiting certain public entities from conducting or sponsoring political surveys, polls, or questionnaires in their official capacities.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Electioneering by Public Employees. RSA 659:44-a is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:
659:44-a Electioneering by Public Employees.
I. No public employee, as defined in RSA 273-A:1, IX, shall electioneer while in the performance of his or her official duties.
II. No public employee shall use government property or equipment, including, but not limited to, telephones, facsimile machines, vehicles, and computers, for electioneering.
III. For the purposes of this section, "electioneer" means to act in any way specifically designed to influence the vote of a voter on any question or office.
IV. No public body or public employee while acting in an official capacity, shall conduct or sponsor any survey, poll, or questionnaire concerning candidates, political parties, ballot measures, or policies reasonably anticipated to be submitted to voters. For the purposes of this paragraph, "public employees" means the persons described in RSA 273-A:1, IX(b), (c), and (d). This paragraph shall not apply to bona fide academic research conducted independently by an institution of higher education.
V. Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
LBA
25-0502
03/13/2026
HB 686-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT #2026-0972h)
AN ACT
prohibiting certain public entities from conducting or sponsoring political surveys, polls, or questionnaires in their official capacities.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Estimated State Impact
FY 2026
FY 2027
FY 2028
FY 2029
Revenue
$0
$0
$0
$0
Revenue Fund
None
Expenditures*
Indeterminable
Funding Source
General Fund
Appropriations*
$0
$0
$0
$0
Funding Source
None
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill
Estimated Political Subdivision Impact
FY 2026
FY 2027
FY 2028
FY 2029
County Revenue
$0
$0
$0
$0
County Expenditures
Indeterminable
Local Revenue
$0
$0
$0
$0
Local Expenditures
Indeterminable
METHODOLOGY:
This bill adds, deletes, or modifies a criminal penalty, or changes statute to which there is a penalty for violation. Therefore, this bill may have an impact on the judicial and correctional systems, which could affect prosecution, incarceration, probation, and parole costs, for the state, as well as county and local governments. A summary of such costs can be found at:
https://gencourt.state.nh.us/lba/Budget/Fiscal_Notes/JudicialCorrectionalCosts.pdf
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Judicial Branch, Judicial Council, Department of Justice, Department of Corrections, New Hampshire Association of Counties, and New Hampshire Municipal Association