New Hampshire HB 1695: preventing any guide or explanation regarding the effect of a proposed constitutional amendment from appearing on the ballot.

Bill Text

HB 1695 - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

11Mar2026... 0476h

2026 SESSION

 26-2526

 08/09

HOUSE BILL 1695

AN ACT preventing any guide or explanation regarding the effect of a proposed constitutional amendment from appearing on the ballot.

SPONSORS: Rep. Lane, Merr. 16; Rep. Muirhead, Graf. 12; Rep. Bay, Straf. 21; Rep. Ward, Rock. 27; Sen. Reardon, Dist 15; Sen. Perkins Kwoka, Dist 21

COMMITTEE: Election Law

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

 This bill prevents any guide or explanation regarding the effect of a proposed constitutional amendment from appearing on the ballot.

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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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.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... 0476h 26-2526

 08/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT preventing any guide or explanation regarding the effect of a proposed constitutional amendment from appearing on the ballot.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 1 Questions to Voters; Constitutional Amendments; Form of Ballot. Amend RSA 663:3 to read as follows: 

 663:3 Form of Ballot. 

 I. The following words shall be printed above the constitutional amendment questions on all ballots containing such questions: "Questions Relating to Constitutional Amendments Proposed by the Convention to Revise the Constitution" or "Questions Relating to Constitutional Amendments Proposed by the Legislature to Revise the Constitution," whichever is appropriate. A constitutional question shall include, in the text of the question, the text of the article of the constitution as it is proposed to be amended, and the results of the vote taken on ordering the proposed amendment to third reading in both the senate and the house of representatives or at the constitutional convention, whichever is appropriate. 

 II. In instances where the general court or constitutional convention proposes a constitutional amendment in which the constitution would be amended, the proposed amendment shall be displayed on the ballot by way of bracketing and striking text that would be removed and bolding and italicizing text that would be added. 

 2 Voter's Guides; Constitutional Amendments. RSA 663:3-a is repealed and reenacted to read as follows: 

 663:3-a Voter's Guides. If the general court or constitutional convention proposes a constitutional amendment, no explanation or voter's guide to the text of the amendment shall be included on any ballot in which a vote on the adoption of the constitutional amendment takes place. 

 3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.