New Hampshire HB 1487: creating an independent commission to propose redistricting maps for the legislature to consider.

Bill Text

HB 1487-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION

 26-2617

 08/06

HOUSE BILL 1487-FN

AN ACT creating an independent commission to propose redistricting maps for the legislature to consider.

SPONSORS: Rep. Lane, Merr. 16; Rep. Ebel, Merr. 7; Rep. Parshall, Ches. 8; Rep. Spahr, Graf. 12; Rep. J. Sullivan, Graf. 2; Rep. Ward, Rock. 27; Rep. Simpson, Rock. 33; Sen. Perkins Kwoka, Dist 21

COMMITTEE: Election Law

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ANALYSIS

 This bill creates an independent commission to propose redistricting maps for the legislature to consider.

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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 26-2617

 08/06

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT creating an independent commission to propose redistricting maps for the legislature to consider.

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

 1 New Chapter; Advisory Commission on Redistricting. Amend RSA by inserting after chapter 662-A the following new chapter: 

CHAPTER 662-B

INDEPENDENT ADVISORY COMMISSION ON REDISTRICTING

 662-B:1 Independent Advisory Commission on Redistricting Established. In order to make an apportionment of state representatives, state senators, executive councilors, and Congressional representatives as required under the New Hampshire constitution Part Second, Articles 9, 11, 26, and 65, which limits the practice of political gerrymandering, whereby legislative districts are purposefully drawn to favor one political party over another, there is hereby established a New Hampshire advisory commission on redistricting ("commission"), which shall convene no later than May 15, 2031, and every 10 years thereafter, in order to: 

 I. Conduct an open and transparent process enabling full public consideration of and comment on the drawing of district lines. 

 II. Draw district lines according to the redistricting criteria specified in this chapter.

 III. Conduct its business with integrity and fairness. 

 662-B:2 Eligibility to Serve on the Commission. A person shall be eligible for appointment to the commission if the person has been a resident of New Hampshire for 2 years, is eligible to register to vote in New Hampshire, and if the person does not currently hold office in, is not a candidate for, and has not served in any of the following offices for the last 10 years: United States House of Representatives, United States Senate, New Hampshire senate, New Hampshire house of representatives, or executive council, or a county commission. 

 662-B:3 Appointment of Commissioners. 

 I. By August 10 of the year in which the federal decennial census occurs, the secretary of state shall, after holding at least one public hearing, prepare an application form that includes, but is not limited to, the criteria in paragraph IV and that will allow appointing authorities to evaluate a person's experience and qualifications. The application shall be made available on the websites of the secretary of state, the governor, and the general court and in any other forum deemed reasonable to the secretary of state. 

 II. The secretary of state shall begin soliciting applicants for the commission no later than September 1 of each year ending in zero by making an effort to notify all eligible persons and inviting them to apply. These efforts shall include: 

 (a) Advertising the application period and criteria in newspapers in the state.

 (b) Advertising the application period and criteria on the home page of state agency websites.

 (c) Requesting media to publicize the commission’s search for eligible members.

 (d) Publicizing the application period and criteria in the New Hampshire house and senate calendars. 

 III. By December 1 of each year during which the federal decennial census occurs, any person who seeks to serve on the commission shall submit a completed application to the secretary of state. The application form for the commissioners shall include the following criteria: 

 (a) Whether the applicant or the applicant's immediate family has, in the preceding 10 years, registered as a lobbyist, served as an officer, paid consultant, or contractor of a campaign committee, political committee, or state-level political party, or served as a staff member, paid consultant, or contractor for an elected official or candidate for public office. In this chapter "immediate family" means spouse, children, parents, siblings, and sibling's spouses and children;

 (b) What elective offices, if any, the applicant has or the applicant's immediate family members have held in New Hampshire in the prec