HB 1381 New Hampshire House · 2026 Regular Session

extending the time of the party filing period.

HB 1381 extends the filing deadline for political organizations to nominate candidates for state offices by 10 business days after the regular candidate filing period ends. The regular filing period runs from the first Wednesday in June to the Friday of the following week, and this extension allows a political organization's chairperson to file nominations for any office where no candidate filed during the regular period. All filings during this 10-day extension must be submitted to the Secretary of State. This bill directly affects political parties and candidates seeking nomination for state offices.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Dec 2025

Committee Review

Jun 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

Jun 2026

Introduced Dec 4, 2025 Signed Jun 22, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Version adopted by both bodies → CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION · 2 edits

MINOR

No substantive policy changes were made between the version adopted by both bodies and the final chaptered version. The only additions are the chapter number (Chapter 129), the approval date (June 11, 2026), and a restated effective date summary at the end of the document, all of which are standard elements added during the finalization/chaptering process.

TECHNICAL

Chapter number (Chapter 129) was assigned to the bill as part of the standard chaptering process.

TIMELINE

Approval date of June 11, 2026 and a restated effective date summary were added at the end of the document, consistent with standard final version formatting.

Introduced → As Amended by the Senate · 5 edits

MODERATE

The Senate significantly restructured the bill. Instead of adding a new extended filing period to RSA 655:14 (general candidate filing rules), the amendment modifies RSA 655:32, which governs what happens when no candidate files for an office. The core policy goal - giving parties a window after the regular filing deadline to fill vacancies - remains, but it is now implemented by extending the acceptance deadline in the existing vacancy-filling provision from 'the Wednesday following the filing period' to '10 business days after the filing period closes.' The effective date was also shortened from 60 days after passage to immediately upon passage.

SCOPE

The bill now amends RSA 655:32, I (the existing 'no declaration filed' vacancy provision) instead of adding a new paragraph II to RSA 655:14 (general filing provisions). This shifts the mechanism from creating a brand-new extended filing period for parties to modifying how an existing vacancy-filling process works.

TIMELINE

The deadline for a party-designated candidate to file their declaration of candidacy was extended from 'on or before the Wednesday following the expiration of the filing period' (the prior law) to 'within 10 business days following the close of the candidate filing period.' This gives parties roughly two weeks instead of about one week to complete the process.

The effective date was changed from '60 days after its passage' to 'upon its passage,' meaning the law takes effect immediately once signed rather than after a two-month delay.

REQUIREMENT

New requirement: a candidate accepting a party-designated nomination who has already filed for an incompatible office (as defined in RSA 655:10) must withdraw the prior filing. Any vacancy created by that withdrawal can be filled under the same section.

New requirement: if the designated candidate is running for governor, councilor, state senator, or state representative, they must also file the appropriate affidavit (under RSA 655:29) by the Wednesday following the filing period. Failure to file all required forms within the required time means the candidate's name will not appear on the primary ballot.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jun 22, 2026

Signed into law

Signed by Governor Ayotte 06/11/2026; Chapter 129; eff. I. Sec 2 eff 1/1/28 II. Rem eff 6/11/26

lower

Jun 10, 2026

Introduced

Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2143e: AA VV 06/04/2026 HJ 15 P. 42

lower

Jun 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2143e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/04/2026); SJ 14

upper

Jun 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Report 2026-2093c: Adopted, VV 06/04/2026 HJ 15 P. 12

lower

May 29, 2026

Upper · Passed

Conference Committee Report # 2026-2093c, Adopted, VV; 06/04/2026; SJ 14

upper

May 28, 2026

Upper · Passed

Conference Committee Report Filed, # 2026-2093c; 06/04/2026

upper

May 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting: 05/27/2026 10:30 am GP 228

lower

May 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Sen. Gray Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; (In recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13

upper

May 6, 2026

Introduced

House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1325s (Rep. Berry): MA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 84

lower

Apr 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1325s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/16/2026; SJ 9

upper

Apr 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Committee Amendment # 2026-1325s, AA, VV; 04/16/2026; SJ 9

upper

Apr 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1325s, 04/16/2026; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 14

upper

Mar 6, 2026

Introduced

Introduced 03/05/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 6

upper

Mar 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

Ought to Pass: MA VV 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 15

lower

Feb 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

Committee Report: Ought to Pass 02/10/2026 (Vote 14-0; CC) HC 9 P. 14

lower

Dec 4, 2025

Introduced

Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Election Law HJ 1 P. 18

lower

0 primary · 1 co-sponsor