New Hampshire SB 587: creating criteria for redistricting of congressional districts, state senate districts, state house of representatives districts, and executive councilor districts.

Bill Text

SB 587 - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION

 26-2242

 08/06

SENATE BILL 587

AN ACT creating criteria for redistricting of congressional districts, state senate districts, state house of representatives districts, and executive councilor districts. 

SPONSORS: Sen. Perkins Kwoka, Dist 21; Sen. Fenton, Dist 10; Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Long, Dist 20; Sen. Prentiss, Dist 5; Sen. Altschiller, Dist 24; Rep. Telerski, Hills. 11; Rep. Simpson, Rock. 33

COMMITTEE: Election Law and Municipal Affairs

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ANALYSIS

 This bill creates criteria for redistricting congressional districts, state senate districts, state house of representatives districts, and executive councilor districts.

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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 26-2242

 08/06

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT creating criteria for redistricting of congressional districts, state senate districts, state house of representatives districts, and executive councilor districts. 

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

 1 Short Title. This act shall be known as the "Fair Maps Act." 

 2 Findings. 

 I. The number of senate seats each party holds should be roughly proportional to the statewide vote percentage for each party. 

 II. In 2024, the statewide vote percentage for Democratic state senate candidates was 48.64 percent, yet Democrats only won 33 percent of the state senate seats. In 2022, Democratic state senate candidates won a majority of votes statewide, 50.6 percent, yet only won 41.66 percent of seats. And once again in 2020, Democratic State Senate candidates earned 49.81 percent of votes statewide, yet only won 41.66 percent of seats. 

 III. If state senate districts are to be drawn to accurately represent the makeup of New Hampshire voters across 24 seats, then the overall seat allocation should track closely with the overall statewide vote breakdown. 

 3 New Section; Criteria for Redistricting Electoral Districts for Federal and State Offices. Amend RSA 14 by inserting after section 14-c the following new section: 

 14:14-d Criteria for Redistricting Electoral Districts for Federal and State Offices. 

 I. When apportioning the state in congressional districts, state house of representative, state senate legislative districts, and executive council districts, the general court shall hold at least 10 public hearings at locations throughout the state prior to proposing any reapportionment plan to gather information from the public about communities of interest and other matters relevant to the development of proposed reapportionment plans by the general court. 

 II. In addition to the hearings required under paragraph I, the general court shall: 

 (a) Hold at least 3 public hearings after a reapportionment plan is proposed, but before the first vote of the general court or a committee of the general court is held in order to solicit public feedback on the proposed plan. 

 (b) Subject to subparagraph III(d), conduct the hearings required under this section either in different state senate districts of this state or with the use of video conferencing technologies that permit active citizen participation throughout the state. 

 III. In holding the hearings required under paragraphs I and II, the general court shall: 

 (a) Schedule hearings at times and locations that are broadly convenient to members of the public and that facilitate maximum meaningful public participation in the reapportionment process. To the extent possible, hearings shall be held outside of regular business hours. 

 (b) Provide at least 5 business days’ public notice of the time and location of each hearing;

 (c) Hold at least one hearing required under paragraph I in each county of this state;

 (d) Hold at least one hearing required under paragraph I and one hearing required under paragraph II in areas that have experienced the largest shifts in population since the previous reapportionment, and prioritize holding public hearings in these areas; and 

 (e) Permit and make provision for individuals at remote sites throughout the state to provide public testimony at hearings through the use of video equipment. 

 IV.(a) In addition to the public hearings required by paragraphs I and II, the public shall have the right to comment at any hearing of a committee of the general court held to discuss reapportionment matters. The general court may request that persons register in advance of the hearing, but shall not require pre-registration as a conditi