CACR26 The powers of the governor. the governor shall not call up the national guard without the approval of the executive council.
The powers of the governor. the governor shall not call up the national guard without the approval of the executive council.
Impact Score — How Does This Bill Affect You?
Overall Impact Score
Concerning
Scale: 1 (harmful) to 10 (beneficial)
Your Wallet
No direct financial impact on taxpayers or family budgets is stated or implied.
Your Community
Could delay emergency response during crises like natural disasters or civil unrest if the Executive Council cannot quickly convene or reach consensus to approve National Guard deployment.
Your Freedom
Distributes military command authority across five elected officials rather than concentrating it in one, potentially adding democratic oversight but also creating ambiguity in emergency decision-making.
Status
Minority Committee Report: Ought to Pass
Sponsor
Heath Howard (D)
The Short Version
This constitutional amendment would require the Executive Council to approve any gubernatorial activation of the National Guard, shifting military command authority from the governor alone to require five-member council concurrence. If adopted by voters in 2026, it would fundamentally alter NH's emergency response structure by adding a potential veto point to National Guard deployment decisions.
Who's Behind This Bill?
Who Benefits
- ▲ Supporters of checks on executive power and expanded legislative/council oversight of military forces
- ▲ Executive Council members (gain new authority in military decisions)
Who Pays the Price
- ▼ Governor's ability to respond swiftly to emergencies involving National Guard deployment
- ▼ Potentially NH residents in emergency situations if approval delays occur
- ▼ Military readiness if council disagreement prevents timely mobilization
Bill statuses as of October 7, 2026. Check LegiScan or NH General Court for the latest.
This bill was auto-scored using AI analysis of the bill text and legislative data. Scores may be refined as we review more bills.