Legislative Updates by Rep. Maureen Mooney for March, 2026

The N.H. House just had multiple, lengthy session days addressing hundreds of bills. The reason is that deadlines are looming and more bills have been filed this year than ever before.

Here are updates since last month on legislation of interest:

-CACR 10 – the adoption of tax laws. This proposed Constitutional Amendment (as amended) would have prohibited an income tax in New Hampshire. A Constitutional Amendment must pass the House with a 3/5ths vote before heading to the Senate for 3/5ths vote, then it goes to the voters for a 2/3rds vote. STATUS: This Constitutional Amendment failed to reach a 3/5ths vote in the House - 194-158; therefore, it will not proceed to the Senate or the ballot this fall.

-HB 1773-FN:AN ACT relative to food and drink purchased under SNAP, the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program. This bill would have prohibited the purchase of sweetened drinks and candy on Electronic Benefits Transfer (“EBT”) cards. STATUS: The bill died in the House 161-173.

-HB 661-FN: AN ACT relative to the department of health and human services management of social security payments, supplemental security income payments, and veterans benefits for children in foster care. This bill will establish interest bearing accounts for children in foster care who receive federal benefits. Those funds can then be withdrawn once they age out of foster care. Currently, those funds are used toward foster care. STATUS: The bill passed in the House 309-19 and now proceeds to the Senate.

-HB 1125: AN ACT enabling school districts to adopt partisan school district elections. This bill would allow school districts to hold partisan elections, if they vote to do so. STATUS: The bill passed the House 168-156 and now proceeds to the Senate.

-HB 1272: AN ACT providing an option for each candidate’s party affiliations to be printed on the town or school district ballot. This bill would allow party affiliation to be placed on both town and/or school district ballots, if the town/city votes to do so. If a town/city chooses to have partisan local races, a candidate may opt not to have his/her party listed. Right now, those elections are nonpartisan. STATUS: This bill passed in the House 171-156 and now proceeds to the Senate.

Around Town

Merrimack Town and School District Election Day is Tuesday, April 14, 2026.For more information on voting in Merrimack, as well as dates for deliberative sessions, go to this link:https://www.merrimacknh.gov/elections-voting.

The Town Council recently determined there will be ONLY two polling locations in Merrimack - Ward 1 (voting at Merrimack High School) and Ward 2 (voting at Merrimack Middle School). To find your polling location, enter your address at this link in the upper right here.

See you around town!

Rep. Maureen Mooney is in her sixth term as a NH State Representative serving Merrimack. Her website is: www.votemooney.com and Facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/maureenmooneynh.