Rep. Robert Wherry

Maddy summaryHB 686 requires voters to provide identification when applying for an absentee ballot. This directly affects voters who seek to cast ballots by mail, mandating ID verification at the request stage. The bill’s key provision adds an ID requirement to the absentee ballot application process, replacing any prior methods of verification. It does not change rules for in-person voting or ballot drop-off procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 463 would change who serves on election recount boards for local select board and school board elections in New Hampshire. It specifically modifies the composition requirements for these recount boards, altering the appointment process or membership criteria. The bill directly affects local election administrators and voters in communities holding these specific local elections. As of the latest update, the bill remains pending in committee after a committee report recommended it pass, but it has not yet been voted on by the full legislature.

Maddy summaryHB 289 addressed rules for determining where individuals must live to vote (domicile qualifications). The bill was reviewed by committees but was ultimately deemed "Inexpedient to Legislate" with a 17-0 vote on September 16, 2025, meaning it did not advance further. No specific policy changes were proposed in the available context, and the bill was effectively tabled without becoming law. This procedural bill did not affect any current voting rules or directly impact voters, as it was rejected by the committee.

Maddy summaryHB 524 amends New Hampshire law to require the New Hampshire Vaccine Association to disburse all collected assessments (including funds in the state vaccine purchase fund) by the end of each fiscal year, with a maximum 90-day extension. It also establishes a legislative committee to study the association's efficacy, composed of three House members (appointed by the Speaker) and two Senate members (appointed by the President). The committee must gather input from relevant entities and submit findings and recommendations to legislative leaders and the governor by November 1, 2026. This bill directly affects the Vaccine Association’s financial operations and the committee members’ responsibilities.

Maddy summaryHB 233 requires the New Hampshire Vaccine Association's board of directors to audio and video record all meetings and publish those recordings on the association's website in an accessible format within 48 hours of each meeting. This bill directly affects the New Hampshire Vaccine Association by mandating transparency in its public proceedings. The key provision is the 48-hour posting requirement for all recorded meetings, aiming to make the association's decision-making process more accessible to the public. The bill was introduced in March 2025 but was ultimately deemed "Inexpedient to Legislate" by committee in October 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 67 requires the Secretary of State to establish formal agreements with local election officials regarding the use of accessible voting systems. This directly affects local election offices and voters with disabilities who rely on these systems for voting access. The bill creates a standardized process for these agreements, ensuring consistent implementation of accessible voting technology across all jurisdictions. The law took effect immediately for certain provisions on June 29, 2025, with full implementation scheduled for January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 154 allows voters in elections using voting machines to request a manual hand-count of their ballot instead of relying solely on machine tabulation. This directly affects voters who wish to verify their vote's accuracy in machine-counted elections, such as local, state, or federal contests. The bill requires election officials to provide this option upon voter request during the voting process, with the law taking effect on September 30, 2025. It does not change voting methods but adds a verification step for eligible voters.

Maddy summaryHB 270 requires election officials to preserve external storage devices used in electronic ballot counting systems after elections. This directly affects state and local election administrators responsible for managing voting equipment. The bill mandates that these devices be retained for a specified period (as defined by the law) to ensure verifiable records of election results. The law became effective on September 13, 2025, following gubernatorial approval on July 22, 2025.