relative to audits for communications districts.
SB 585 allows communications districts in New Hampshire to skip mandatory independent audits if they meet specific revenue thresholds. It directly affects small communications districts with annual revenue under $50,000 or under $2 million that aren't tax authorities (cannot raise funds from municipalities except via voluntary contributions or contracts). The bill requires districts to petition the Department of Revenue Administration (DRA) to waive audits, which the DRA must grant if the revenue criteria are met. This change reduces administrative costs for qualifying districts without altering audit requirements for larger entities. The DRA confirmed this would save local governments money but impose no new costs on state agencies.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Nov 2025
Committee Review
May 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
House Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
Jul 2026
Introduced Nov 25, 2025
Signed Jul 9, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
Version adopted by both bodies
→
CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION
·
4 edits
MODERATE
SB 585-FN was chaptered as Chapter 271 with no substantive policy changes. The differences are administrative: section numbers were updated to chapter format (271:1, 271:2), the fiscal note was removed (standard for final enacted law), and approval/effective dates were added. A minor grammatical correction changed 'was less than $50,000' to 'were less than $50,000.'
TECHNICAL
Section numbers changed from generic (1, 2) to chapter format (271:1, 271:2) as part of the standard chaptering process.
The fiscal note section (including fiscal impact tables, methodology, and agencies contacted) was removed, which is standard when a bill transitions from adopted version to final chaptered law.
Minor grammatical correction: 'was less than $50,000' changed to 'were less than $50,000' in the audit waiver threshold language.
TIMELINE
Approval date (July 02, 2026) and effective date (August 31, 2026) were added to the final version.
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
14
Key actions
5
Committee
4
Amendments
2
Jul 9, 2026
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor on 07/02/2026; Chapter 271; Effective 08/31/2026
upper
May 21, 2026
Introduced
Sen. Gray Moved to Concur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 05/21/2026; SJ 13
upper
May 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-1769h: MA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 26
lower
May 14, 2026
Introduced
Amendment # 2026-1769h: AA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 26
lower
May 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1769h 05/05/2026 (Vote 20-0; CC) HC 19 P. 15
lower
Feb 26, 2026
Introduced
Introduced (in recess of) 02/19/2026 and referred to Municipal and County Government HJ 5 P. 127
lower
Feb 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
Ought to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 02/19/2026; SJ 4
upper
Feb 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 02/19/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 6
upper
Nov 25, 2025
Introduced
Introduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 1
upper
1 primary · 6 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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