New Hampshire HB 686: relative to calculating and funding the interim cost of an opportunity for an adequate education and extending the interest and dividends tax to capital gains.

Bill Text

HB 686-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

11Mar2026... 0972h

2025 SESSION

 25-0502

 07/08

HOUSE BILL 686-FN

AN ACT prohibiting certain public entities from conducting or sponsoring political surveys, polls, or questionnaires in their official capacities.

SPONSORS: Rep. Potenza, Straf. 19; Rep. Ankarberg, Straf. 7; Rep. Berry, Hills. 44; Rep. Burnham, Straf. 2; Rep. DeRoy, Straf. 3; Rep. Kuttab, Rock. 17; Rep. Turcotte, Straf. 4; Rep. Wherry, Hills. 13

COMMITTEE: Election Law

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

 This bill prohibits certain public entities from conducting or sponsoring political surveys, polls, or questionnaires in their official capacities. This bill also exempts from such prohibition any surveys, polls, or questionnaires conducted by institutions of higher education.

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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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.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... 0972h 25-0502

 07/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five

AN ACT prohibiting certain public entities from conducting or sponsoring political surveys, polls, or questionnaires in their official capacities.

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

 1 Electioneering by Public Employees. RSA 659:44-a is repealed and reenacted to read as follows: 

 659:44-a Electioneering by Public Employees. 

 I. No public employee, as defined in RSA 273-A:1, IX, shall electioneer while in the performance of his or her official duties.

 II. No public employee shall use government property or equipment, including, but not limited to, telephones, facsimile machines, vehicles, and computers, for electioneering.

 III. For the purposes of this section, "electioneer" means to act in any way specifically designed to influence the vote of a voter on any question or office.

 IV. No public body or public employee while acting in an official capacity, shall conduct or sponsor any survey, poll, or questionnaire concerning candidates, political parties, ballot measures, or policies reasonably anticipated to be submitted to voters. For the purposes of this paragraph, "public employees" means the persons described in RSA 273-A:1, IX(b), (c), and (d). This paragraph shall not apply to bona fide academic research conducted independently by an institution of higher education.

 V. Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. 

 2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

 LBA

 25-0502

 03/13/2026

HB 686-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT #2026-0972h)

AN ACT prohibiting certain public entities from conducting or sponsoring political surveys, polls, or questionnaires in their official capacities.

FISCAL IMPACT: 

 Estimated State Impact

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

 Revenue

$0

$0 

$0 

$0 

 Revenue Fund

None

 Expenditures*

Indeterminable

 Funding Source

General Fund

 Appropriations*

$0 

$0 

$0 

$0 

 Funding Source

None

 *Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill

 Estimated Political Subdivision Impact

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

 County Revenue

$0 

$0 

$0 

$0 

 County Expenditures

Indeterminable

 Local Revenue

$0 

$0 

$0 

$0 

 Local Expenditures

Indeterminable

METHODOLOGY:

This bill adds, deletes, or modifies a criminal penalty, or changes statute to which there is a penalty for violation. Therefore, this bill may have an impact on the judicial and correctional systems, which could affect prosecution, incarceration, probation, and parole costs, for the state, as well as county and local governments. A summary of such costs can be found at: https://gencourt.state.nh.us/lba/Budget/Fiscal_Notes/JudicialCorrectionalCosts.pdf

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Judicial Branch, Judicial Council, Department of Justice, Department of Corrections, New Hampshire Association of Counties, and New Hampshire Municipal Association