New Hampshire HB 1692: relative to the legislative youth advisory council.

Bill Text

HB 1692 - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION

 26-2676

 12/09

HOUSE BILL 1692

AN ACT relative to the legislative youth advisory council. 

SPONSORS: Rep. Thibault, Merr. 25; Rep. Farrington, Straf. 8; Rep. D. Germana, Ches. 1; Rep. Litchfield, Rock. 32; Rep. McDonnell, Rock. 25; Rep. Nelson, Rock. 13; Sen. Innis, Dist 7

COMMITTEE: Legislative Administration

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ANALYSIS

 This bill modifies the structure, membership, duties, and administration of the legislative youth advisory council. The bill also establishes both an application process for prospective youth members of the council and a penalty for violations of the chapter relative to the legislative youth advisory council.

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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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 26-2676

 12/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT relative to the legislative youth advisory council. 

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

 1 Legislative Youth Advisory Council; Membership Modified. RSA 19-K:1-2 is repealed and reenacted to read as follows: 

 19-K:1 Legislative Youth Advisory Council Established. A legislative youth advisory council is established to enable young people the ability to review legislation and make recommendations on legislation as viewed from the perspective of youth. Three elected members of the house of representatives and one senator will be appointed to assist the youth council in reviewing current legislation. The primary focus shall be to explore, identify, and create legislation that affects youth, including but not limited to education, strategies to increase youth participation in local and state government, housing, science and technology, transportation, labor, the environment, health and wellness, and substance misuse. Once legislation is identified, the council should discuss the legislation with the legislation's primary and co-sponsors, as well as opponents to the legislation, to advise the general court. The council may also examine actions it can take to increase youth civic engagement in New Hampshire. The council shall submit an annual report with recommendations for future legislation as outlined in RSA 19-K:3, VI. 

 19-K:2 Membership. The council shall consist of 24 members including 4 members of the general court that will serve as non-voting members of the council, and 20 youth members. The youth membership shall be between the ages of 14 and 22, with any secondary school-aged member attending traditional public, public charter, private schools, or home-schools, or participating in a program that leads to a high school equivalency certificate, and any postsecondary school-aged member being a New Hampshire resident enrolled in a postsecondary education or participating in New Hampshire's workforce. 

 I. The president of the senate shall appoint one senate member. 

 II. The speaker of the house shall appoint the following members: 

 (a) Seventeen secondary students; and

 (b) Three postsecondary students; and

 (c) Three members of the house of representatives, one of whom shall be the youngest member of the majority party, or designee, one of whom shall be the youngest member of the minority party, or designee, and one of whom shall be a member from either party serving in an overall advisory position.

 III. The speaker of the house will appoint youth council members in a timely manner and in the earliest possible time frame. The speaker of the house and president of the senate shall make appointments that foster geographic, socioeconomic, and educational diversity among council members, while maintaining a primary focus on merit. No more than 2 youth members may reside in the same municipality full-time. Any members appointed before the enactment of this act shall maintain their positions on the council until the end of their designated term. New legislative members of the council will be appointed by the speaker of the house and the senate president soon after the legislators have taken their oath of office. 

 IV. If a member misses 3 consecutive meetings or 4 total meetings in one council year without cause, as defined by council rules, the council may request that the appointing authority appoint a replacement member within 30 days. Upon appointment of the replacement, the prior appointment shall terminate, and the replacement shall serve for the remainder of the prior member's term. Replacement members serving a remainder of 12 months or less may be considered for reappointment to a full subsequent term. 

 2 New Section; Legislative