New Hampshire General Court
| New Hampshire General Court | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Type: | State legislature |
| Term limits: | None |
| Session start: | January 3, 2024 |
| Website: | Official Legislature Page |
| Leadership | |
| Senate President: | Jeb Bradley (R) |
| House Speaker: | Sherman Packard (R) |
| Majority Leader: | Senate: Sharon Carson (R) House: Jason Osborne (R) |
| Minority Leader: | Senate: Donna Soucy (D) House: Matt Wilhelm (D) |
| Structure | |
| Members: | 24 (Senate), 400 (House) |
| Length of term: | 2 years (Senate), 2 years (House) |
| Authority: | Part Second, New Hampshire Constitution |
| Salary: | $100/year |
| Elections | |
| Last election: | November 8, 2022 |
| Next election: | November 5, 2024 |
| Redistricting: | Legislature-dominant |
The General Court of New Hampshire is the bicameral state legislature of New Hampshire. The lower house is the New Hampshire House of Representatives with 400 members. The upper house is the New Hampshire State Senate with 24 members. The General Court is the fourth-largest English-speaking legislative body in the world, behind the Parliament of the United Kingdom, the United States Congress, and the Parliament of India, and has one of the greatest disparities in size between chambers of a bicameral legislature.[1] The General Court meets in the New Hampshire State House in Concord.
New Hampshire has a Republican trifecta. The Republican Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature.
Elections
2024
Elections for the New Hampshire State Senate will take place in 2024. The general election is on November 5, 2024. A primary is September 10, 2024. The filing deadline is June 14, 2024.
Elections for the New Hampshire House of Representatives will take place in 2024. The general election is on November 5, 2024. A primary is September 10, 2024. The filing deadline is June 14, 2024.
2022
Elections for the New Hampshire State Senate took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for September 13, 2022. The filing deadline was June 10, 2022.
Elections for the New Hampshire House of Representatives took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for September 13, 2022. The filing deadline was June 10, 2022.
2020
Elections for the office of New Hampshire State Senate took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for September 8, 2020. The filing deadline was June 12, 2020.
Elections for the office of New Hampshire House of Representatives took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for September 8, 2020. The filing deadline was June 12, 2020.
2018
Elections for the New Hampshire State Senate took place in 2018. The semi-closed primary election took place on September 11, 2018, and the general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was June 15, 2018.[2]
Elections for the New Hampshire House of Representatives took place in 2018. The semi-closed primary election took place on September 11, 2018, and the general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was June 15, 2018.[3]
2016
Elections for the New Hampshire State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on September 13, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 10, 2016.
Elections for the New Hampshire House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on September 13, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 10, 2016.
2014
Elections for the New Hampshire State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on September 9, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 13, 2014.
Elections for the New Hampshire House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on September 9, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 13, 2014.
2012
Elections for the office of New Hampshire State Senate took place in 2012. The primary election was held on September 11, 2012, and the general election was held on November 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was June 15, 2012.
Elections for the office of New Hampshire House of Representatives took place in 2012. The primary election was held on September 11, 2012, and the general election was held on November 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was June 15, 2012.
2010
Elections for the office of New Hampshire State Senate took place in 2010. The primary election was held on September 14, 2010, and the general election was held on November 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was June 11, 2010.
Elections for the office of New Hampshire House of Representatives took place in 2010. The primary election was held on September 14, 2010, and the general election was held on November 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was June 11, 2010.
Sessions
The Second Part of the New Hampshire Constitution establishes when the General Court is to be in session. Article 3 of the Second Part states that the General Court is to convene annually on the first Wednesday after the first Tuesday in January. Additionally, in even-numbered years, the General Court is to meet on the first Wednesday of December for organizational purposes.
2024
- See also: 2024 New Hampshire legislative session and Dates of 2024 state legislative sessions
In 2024, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 3, 2024, and adjourn on June 28, 2024.
2023
In 2023, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 4, 2023, and adjourn on June 29, 2023.
| Click [show] for past years' session dates. | |||
|---|---|---|---|
2022In 2022, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 5, 2022, and adjourn on May 26, 2022. 2021In 2021, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 6, 2021, and adjourn on June 24, 2021. 2020In 2020, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 8, 2020, and adjourn on June 30, 2020.
Several state legislatures had their sessions impacted as a result of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. 2019In 2019, the legislature was in session from January 2, 2019, through June 30, 2019. 2018In 2018, the legislature was in session from January 3, 2018, through June 30, 2018. To read about notable events and legislation from this session, click here. 2017
In 2017, the legislature was in session from January 4, 2017, through June 22, 2017. The state House met on November 2 over the governor's veto of HB 86. 2016
In 2016, the legislature was in session from January 6 through June 1. Major issues in 2016Major issues in the 2016 legislative session included Medicaid expansion, addressing the state's opioid crisis, and gambling.[4] 2015
In 2015, the legislature was in session from January 7 to July 1. Major issues in 2015Major issues in the 2015 legislative session included taxes, workers’ compensation, filing the $50-million budget gap, minimum wage increases, and casinos.[5][6] 2014
In 2014, the legislature was in session from January 8 through June 13. Major issues in 2014Major issues in the 2014 legislative session included capital punishment, a proposed casino, raising fuel taxes for road improvement, Medicaid expansion, and a return of the state minimum wage.[7][8][9] 2013
In 2013, the legislature was in session from January 2 to July 1. Major issues in 2013Major issues in the 2013 legislative session included the state's budget deficit, education funding, state pensions, and abortion.[10] 2012
In 2012, the legislature was in session from January 4 through June 27. Major issues in 2012Major issues on the agenda included economic development, job creation, same-sex marriage, and gambling.[11] 2011In 2011, the legislature was in session from January 5 through July 1.[12] 2010In 2010, the legislature was in session from January 6 to July 1.[13] |
Role in state budget
- See also: New Hampshire state budget and finances
New Hampshire on 
|
The state operates on a biennial budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[14]
- Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in August.
- State agencies submit their requests by October 1.
- Public hearings are held in November.
- The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the New Hampshire State Legislature by February 15.
- The legislature adopts a budget in May. A simple majority is required to pass a budget.
- The biennial budget cycle begins in July.
New Hampshire is one of only seven states in which the governor cannot exercise line item veto authority.[14]
In New Hampshire, the governor is required by statute to submit a balanced budget. In turn, the legislature is required to pass a balanced budget.[14]
Legislators
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2023 | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $100/year | No per diem is paid. |
When sworn in
New Hampshire legislators assume office on the first Wednesday in December in even-numbered years, one month and one day after the November elections.[15]
Senate
The New Hampshire Senate has been meeting since 1784. It consists of 24 members representing Senate districts based on population.
As of the 2020 Census, New Hampshire state senators represented an average of 57,462 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 55,060 residents.
| Party | As of January 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 10 | |
| Republican Party | 14 | |
| Other | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 0 | |
| Total | 24 | |
Click here for a list of members of this chamber.
Republicans won control of the New Hampshire State Senate in 2020. In 2022, they won a 14-10 majority.
The table below shows the partisan history of the New Hampshire Senate following every general election from 1992 to 2022. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.
New Hampshire State Senate election results: 1992-2022
| Year | '92 | '94 | '96 | '98 | '00 | '02 | '04 | '06 | '08 | '10 | '12 | '14 | '16 | '18 | '20 | '22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 11 | 6 | 9 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 14 | 5 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 10 |
| Republicans | 13 | 18 | 15 | 11 | 13 | 18 | 16 | 10 | 10 | 19 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 14 |
House of Representatives
The House of Representatives consists of 400 members coming from 103 districts across the state.
As of the 2020 Census, New Hampshire state representatives represented an average of 3,448 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 3,304 residents.
If the same level of representation were present in Congress, the U.S. House of Representatives would have approximately 99,000 members according to current population estimates.
| Party | As of January 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 195 | |
| Republican Party | 198 | |
| Independent | 2 | |
| Other | 1 | |
| Vacancies | 4 | |
| Total | 400 | |
Click here for a list of members of this chamber.
Republicans won control of the New Hampshire House of Representatives in 2020. In 2022, they won a 201-199 majority.
The table below shows the partisan history of the New Hampshire House following every general election from 1992 to 2022. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.
New Hampshire House of Representatives election results: 1992-2022
| Year | '92 | '94 | '96 | '98 | '00 | '02 | '04 | '06 | '08 | '10 | '12 | '14 | '16 | '18 | '20 | '22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 136 | 112 | 143 | 154 | 140 | 119 | 148 | 239 | 224 | 102 | 221 | 160 | 173 | 233 | 187 | 199 |
| Republicans | 258 | 286 | 255 | 242 | 256 | 281 | 252 | 161 | 176 | 298 | 179 | 239 | 227 | 167 | 213 | 201 |
| Other | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
District maps
State Senate
State House
Veto overrides
- See also: Veto overrides in state legislatures
State legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in New Hampshire are listed below.
How many legislators are required to vote for an override? Two-thirds of members in both chambers.
| Two-thirds of members in both chambers must vote to override a veto, which is 267 of the 400 members in the New Hampshire House of Representatives and 16 of the 24 members in the New Hampshire State Senate. New Hampshire is one of 36 states that requires a two-thirds vote from both of its legislative chambers to override a veto. |
Authority: Executive Power, Article 44 of the New Hampshire Constitution.
| "Every bill which shall have passed both houses of the general court, shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the governor, if he approves, he shall sign it, but if not, he shall return it, with his objections, to that house in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the objections at large on their journal, and proceed to reconsider it; if after such reconsideration, two-thirds of that house shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with such objections, to the other house, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and, if approved by two-thirds of that house, it shall become a law." |
History
Partisan balance 1992-2013
New Hampshire State Senate: From 1992-2013, the Democratic Party was the majority in the New Hampshire State Senate for six years while the Republicans were the majority for 16 years. The final three years of the study depicted a shift in the New Hampshire senate with all three years being Republican.
Across the country, there were 541 Democratic and 517 Republican state senates from 1992 to 2013.
New Hampshire State House of Representatives: From 1992-2013, the Democratic Party was the majority in the New Hampshire State House of Representatives for five years while the Republicans were the majority for 17 years.
Across the country, there were 577 Democratic and 483 Republican State Houses of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.
Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states had divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.
The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Office of the Governor of New Hampshire, the New Hampshire State Senate and the New Hampshire House of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.
.PNG)
SQLI and partisanship
- To read the full report on the State Quality of Life Index (SQLI) in PDF form, click here.
The chart below depicts the partisanship of the New Hampshire state government and the state's SQLI ranking for the years studied. For the SQLI, the states were ranked from 1-50, with 1 being the best and 50 the worst. New Hampshire experienced both Democratic and Republican trifectas during the years of the study. Two Republican trifectas occurred in the first years of the study, from 1992-1996 and from 2003-2004. The state then shifted and had a Democratic trifecta from 2007-2010. New Hampshire ranked high in the SQLI, finishing in the top-10 every year of the study, and in 1st over half of the years of the study. The state finished 1st during both Democratic and Republican trifectas as well as during years of divided government. Its lowest rankings occurred in the last two years of the study, when the government was divided.
- SQLI average with Democratic trifecta: 2.00
- SQLI average with Republican trifecta: 1.71
- SQLI average with divided government: 2.20
Redistricting
- See also: Redistricting in New Hampshire
In New Hampshire, both congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by the state legislature. These lines are subject to veto by the governor.[16]
State law requires that state legislative districts "be contiguous, and maintain the boundaries of towns, wards, or unincorporated places." There are no such requirements in place for congressional districts.[16]
2020
On March 23, 2022, Gov. Chris Sununu (R) signed a new state house map into law. On May 6, Sununu signed a new state senate map into law. These maps took effect for New Hampshire's 2022 elections.
On Jan. 5, 2022, the New Hampshire House of Representatives voted 186-168 to approve the state House map.[17] On Feb. 16, the New Hampshire State Senate voted 14-10 to approve the map.[17] On Feb. 16, the New Hampshire State Senate voted 14-10 to approve the map.[17]
On Feb. 16, the state Senate voted 14-10 to approve the state Senate map. On April 21, the House voted 172-149 to approve the map.[18]
2010
New Hampshire received its local Census data on March 22, 2011. The state's population increased 6.5 percent, with Coos County being the only county to face a decrease (-0.2 percent). Growth in the larger cities was as follows: Manchester grew by 2.4 percent, Nashua decreased by 0.1 percent, Concord grew by 4.9 percent, Derry decreased by 2.7 percent, and Dover grew by 11.5 percent.[19]
At the time of redistricting, Republicans controlled the General Court, and the Democrats controlled the governorship. On March 23, 2012, Gov. John Lynch (D) signed into law a new Senate plan but vetoed the House map, citing a lack of representation in towns that exceed 3,000 people, which automatically require their own representative; the Legislature overrode the veto on March 28, 2012. The Department of Justice -- which had the duty of pre-clearing New Hampshire redistricting maps under the Voting Rights Act -- approved the maps in May 2012. On June 19, 2012, several lawsuits regarding the House map were thrown out by the New Hampshire Supreme Court.
Constitutional amendments
In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process for referring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states, initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are also many other types of statewide measures.
The methods in which the New Hampshire Constitution can be amended:
There are two paths to altering the New Hampshire Constitution: A legislatively referred constitutional amendment or a constitutional convention.
Legislature
A 60% vote is required during one legislative session for the New Hampshire State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 240 votes in the New Hampshire House of Representatives and 15 votes in the New Hampshire State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
In New Hampshire, an amendment needs to receive support from two-thirds (66.67%) of the votes cast on the measure.
Convention
According to the New Hampshire Constitution, a question about whether to hold a state constitutional convention is to automatically appear on the state's ballot every 10 years starting in 1972. New Hampshire is one of 14 states that provides for an automatic constitutional convention question.
The table below shows the last and next constitutional convention question election years:
| State | Interval | Last question on the ballot | Next question on the ballot |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | 10 years | 2022 | 2032 |
2025 measures:
- See also: 2025 ballot measures
Certified:
- The following measures have been certified for the ballot.
No measures to list
Potential:
- The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2025.
No measures to list
2024 measures:
Below is a list of measures that were referred to the 2024 ballot by the legislature or that have made it approximately halfway through the process in the legislature for referral to the ballot in 2024.
- See also: New Hampshire 2024 ballot measures
Certified:
- The following measures have been certified for the ballot.
| New Hampshire Increase Mandatory Judicial Retirement Age Amendment | Democrats | Republicans | |||
| Senate: | Required: | Yes votes: (%) | No votes: (%) | Yes: ; No: | Yes: ; No: |
| House: | Required: 238 | Yes votes: 321 (80.8%) | No votes: 27 (6.8%) | Yes: 158; No: 17 | Yes: 162; No: 10 |
Potential:
- The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2024.
| New Hampshire Convening of State Legislature Amendment | Democrats | Republicans | |||
| Senate: | Required: 14 | Yes votes: 24 (100%) | No votes: 0 (0%) | Yes: 10; No: 0 | Yes: 14; No: 0 |
| House: | Required: | Yes votes: (%) | No votes: (%) | Yes: ; No: | Yes: ; No: |
See also
| Elections | New Hampshire State Government | State Legislatures | State Politics |
|---|---|---|---|
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ New Hampshire Government Website, "State Government Overview," accessed June 9, 2014
- ↑ New Hampshire Secretary of State, "Political Calendar 2018-2019," accessed November 9, 2017
- ↑ New Hampshire Secretary of State, "Political Calendar 2018-2019," accessed November 9, 2017
- ↑ New Hampshire Public Radio, "Guns, Gambling, Drugs and Medicaid Await Lawmakers," accessed January 6, 2016
- ↑ New Hampshire Business Review, "Taxes, workers’ comp at top of legislative agenda," January 8, 2015
- ↑ Vermont Public Radio, "New Hampshire Lawmakers Have Their Work Cut Out For Them," January 13, 2015
- ↑ The Associated Press, "Death, taxes, gambling face NH Legislature in 2014," January 5, 2014
- ↑ New Hampshire Business Review, "Nearly 300 bills being proposed in Concord could have an impact on business," January 10, 2014
- ↑ The Associated Press, "N.H. Legislature to convene 2014 session today," January 8, 2014
- ↑ Sentinel Source, "After a shake-up, N.H. legislators have new issues to tackle.," January 4, 2013
- ↑ Concord Monitor, "House GOP: Jobs the focus," January 4, 2012
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2011 Legislative Sessions Calendar," accessed June 6, 2014(Archived)
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2010 session dates for New Hampshire legislature," accessed June 9, 2014
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023
- ↑ New Hampshire Constitution, "Part II, Article 3," accessed February 10, 2021
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 All About Redistricting, "New Hampshire," accessed May 5, 2015
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 New Hampshire General Court, "HB50," accessed February 16, 2022
- ↑ New Hampshire General Court, "SB240," accessed February 16, 2022
- ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "U.S. Census Bureau Delivers New Hampshire's 2010 Census Population Totals, Including First Look at Race and Hispanic Origin Data for Legislative Redistricting," accessed February 10, 2021
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