HB 327-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
20Feb2025... 0237h
2025 SESSION
25-0507
07/08
HOUSE BILL 327-FN
AN ACT relative to filing for office and witnessing affidavits.
SPONSORS: Rep. McFarlane, Graf. 18; Rep. Berry, Hills. 44; Rep. Sellers, Graf. 18; Rep. Comtois, Belk. 7; Rep. Notter, Hills. 12; Rep. Ulery, Hills. 13; Rep. Warden, Hills. 39; Rep. Franz, Graf. 6; Sen. Murphy, Dist 16; Sen. Innis, Dist 7
COMMITTEE: Election Law
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill:
I. Allows the secretary of state to serve as a filing official.
II. Allows town clerks to witness affidavits regardless of whether they are a notary public.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
20Feb2025... 0237h 25-0507
07/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT relative to filing for office and witnessing affidavits.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Nominations by Primary; Official; Official With Whom to File; Definition Changes. Amend RSA 655:15, II and III to read as follows:
II. For state representative in a representative district containing one town or ward and for delegate to a state party convention, the clerk of the town or city in which the officer is to be chosen or the secretary of state.
III. For state representative in a representative district containing more than one town or ward, the clerk of the city or town in which the person who is filing is domiciled; or, if the person is domiciled in an unincorporated place, the town clerk of the town designated by the secretary of state for such filing as provided in RSA 668 or the secretary of state.
2 Nominations by Primary; Affidavit of Qualifications. Amend RSA 655:28 to read as follows:
655:28 Affidavit of Qualifications. A candidate for nomination for the office of governor, councilor, state senator or state representative shall swear an affidavit covering his qualifications as to age, that the candidate is a registered voter, that his domicile is in the district he desires to represent, that he is not a candidate for incompatible offices as defined in RSA 655:10, and that he is not a federal employee which he understands would make him ineligible to file his candidacy. The secretary of state shall not print upon the primary ballot of any party the name of any person unless there is filed with him such an affidavit at the time his candidacy is filed. If the candidate files in person before a town clerk or a deputy town clerk, such clerk shall be empowered to witness the affidavit whether or not that clerk is a notary public.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
25-0507
2/21/25
HB 327-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT #2025-0237h)
AN ACT relative to filing for office and witnessing affidavits.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Legislative Budget Assistant has determined that this legislation has a total fiscal impact of less than $10,000 in each of the fiscal years 2025 through 2028.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
None