HB1187 Relative to the time in which candidates for state representative may file their candidacy for a special election.
Relative to the time in which candidates for state representative may file their candidacy for a special election.
Impact Score — How Does This Bill Affect You?
Overall Impact Score
Concerning
Scale: 1 (harmful) to 10 (beneficial)
Your Wallet
Fiscal note indicates less than $10,000 annual cost across state and municipal budgets with negligible direct financial impact on taxpayers.
Your Community
Bill establishes a procedural accommodation for local clerks' offices but does not alter services, funding, or community programs.
Your Freedom
Modestly enhances candidate filing accessibility by allowing local filing as an alternative to state-level filing, reducing geographic or logistical barriers for some prospective candidates.
Status
Signed by Governor Ayotte 07/10/2026; Chapter 293; eff. 9/8/2026
Sponsor
Ross Berry (R)
The Short Version
This bill modifies the filing process for state representative special election candidates, allowing them to file candidacy declarations with their local town or city clerk for a 3-day period (instead of only with the Secretary of State), with clerks forwarding submissions to the state same-day. The change has minimal fiscal impact (under $10,000 annually) and primarily affects procedural accessibility for candidates.
Who's Behind This Bill?
Who Benefits
- ▲ Candidates for state representative in special elections who prefer filing locally rather than with the Secretary of State
- ▲ Towns and cities with smaller populations or those geographically distant from state offices
Who Pays the Price
- ▼ Town and city clerks' offices, which must handle additional filing work and maintain posting of office hours and contact information
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.