The New Hampshire House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the New Hampshire General Court. Alongside the New Hampshire State Senate, it forms the legislative branch of the New Hampshire state government and works alongside the governor of New Hampshire to create laws and establish a state budget. Legislative authority and responsibilities of the New Hampshire House of Representatives include passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.
The New Hampshire House of Representatives meets in the State House in Concord, New Hampshire.
All 400 seats in the New Hampshire House of Representatives were up for election in 2020. Click to read more »
In 2018, Democrats gained control of the chamber, flipping a 212-167 minority (with two Libertarians and 19 vacancies) to a 233-167 majority.
New Hampshire has a divided government, meaning no political party holds a state government trifecta. A trifecta exists when one political party simultaneously holds the governor’s office and majorities in both state legislative chambers. As of November 4, 2020, there are 21 Republican trifectas, 15 Democratic trifectas, and 14 divided governments where neither party holds trifecta control.
In the 2018 election, Democrats had a net gain of six trifectas and Republicans had a net loss of four trifectas. Prior to that election, New Hampshire had a Republican trifecta. There were 26 Republican trifectas, eight Democratic trifectas, and 16 divided governments.
This page contains the following information on the New Hampshire House of Representatives.
The speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the body. Duties of the speaker include preserving order, enforcing and interpreting parliamentary rules, making committee appointments, and referring bills to the appropriate committee for review. The speaker only votes in the case of a tie.[2]
Article 14 of Part 2 of the New Hampshire Constitution states, "Every member of the house of representatives shall be chosen by ballot; and, for two years, at least, next preceding his election shall have been an inhabitant of this state; shall be, at the time of his election, an inhabitant of the town, ward, place, or district he may be chosen to represent and shall cease to represent such town, ward, place, or district immediately on his ceasing to be qualified as aforesaid."
Historical party control
Between 1992 and 2006, the New Hampshire House of Representatives was controlled by Republicans. Partisan control of the chamber fluctuated between 2006 and 2018. During the House's 2018 elections, Democrats obtained a 233-167 majority, flipping the 227-173 Republican-controlled chamber which arose after the 2016 elections. The table below shows the partisan history of the New Hampshire House of Representatives following every general election from 1992 to 2018. 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 Party Control: 1992-2018
Year
'92
'94
'96
'98
'00
'02
'04
'06
'08
'10
'12
'14
'16
'18
Democrats
136
112
143
154
140
119
148
239
224
102
221
160
173
233
Republicans
258
286
255
242
256
281
252
161
176
298
179
239
227
167
Other
6
2
2
4
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
Between 1992 and 2018, majority control of the state House changed five times from large partisan swings. During that time, Democrats usually controlled between 102 and 239 seats, while Republicans controlled between 161 and 298 seats. Republicans controlled the House from 1992 until the 2006 elections. In the 2006 elections, Democrats picked up 91 seats and held a 239-161 majority. That Democratic majority held until the 2010 elections, when Republicans gained 122 seats. Republicans held that majority until the next election, when Democrats picked up 119 seats in the 2012 elections. The chamber returned to a Republican majority in 2014 after Republicans picked up 60 seats. In the 2018 elections, the chamber flipped once more to a 233-167 Democratic majority.
Trifecta history
A state government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government. Democrats in New Hampshire held a state government trifecta for four years between 1992 and 2017. During that same period of time, Republicans held a trifecta for eight years.
In elections between the 1990s and 2016, New Hampshire leaned Republican at the state legislative level but leaned Democratic at the statewide and presidential levels. Between 1992 and 2017, Republicans controlled the Senate for a total of 20 years, while Democrats held the chamber for a total of five years. In 2011, Republicans retook the state Senate, after previously holding the chamber from 1992 to 1998 and 2001 to 2006. Similar to the Senate, Republicans held the state House for a total of 20 years between 1992 and 2017. Democrats only held the chamber for six years throughout that same period of time. During the 2006, 2010, and 2014 elections, the state House went through massive partisan swings. Democrats overcame a 98-seat Republican majority in the 2006 elections before Republicans rebounded in the 2010 elections. Republicans overcame a 40-seat majority in 2014 to retake control of the chamber.
Democrats controlled the governor's office for 18 years between 1992 and 2016. Republican Chris Sununu was elected to the office in 2016. Prior to Sununu's election in 2016, Republicans had only held the governor's office for seven years between 1992 and 2016. Sununu's victory made the state a Republican trifecta, meaning Republicans controlled both chambers of the legislature and the governor's mansion. The table below shows state government trifectas in New Hampshire from 1992 to 2019.
New Hampshire Party Control: 1992-2020 Four years of Democratic trifectas • Nine years of Republican trifectas
New Hampshire state representatives serve two-year terms, with all seats up for election every two years. New Hampshire holds elections for its legislature in even years.
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.
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. All 400 seats in the New Hampshire House of Representatives were up for election in 2016.
Heading into the election, Republicans held a 230-157 majority with one Libertarian member and 12 vacancies.[4] Republicans lost 10 seats in the election, giving them a 227-173 majority.
Heading into the election, Democrats held a 213-173 majority with 14 vacancies. Democrats lost 53 seats in the election, giving Republicans a 239-160 majority with one independent member.
Elections for the office of New Hampshire House of Representatives took place in 2012. The primary election was held on September 5, 2012, and the general election was held on November 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was June 15, 2012. All 400 seats were up for election.
Heading into the election, Republicans held a 288-103 majority with two independent members and seven vacancies. Republicans lost 109 seats in the election, giving Democrats a 221-179 majority.
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.
Heading into the election, Democrats held a 216-174 majority with 10 vacancies. Democrats lost 114 seats in the election, giving Republicans a 298-102 majority.
Elections for the office of New Hampshire House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on September 9, 2008, and a general election on November 4, 2008.
During the 2008 election, the total value of contributions to House candidates was $468,987. The top 10 contributors were:[6]
2008 Donors, New Hampshire House of Representatives
Donor
Amount
Chaplin, Duncan
$10,000
Vinci, Chris
$8,369
Cmte To Elect House Democrats Of New Hampshire
$8,236
New Hampshire Medical Society
$5,700
House Republican Victory PAC
$5,697
Professional Fire Fighters Of New Hampshire
$5,363
New Hampshire Society Of Eye Physicians & Surgeons
Elections for the office of New Hampshire House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on September 12, 2006, and a general election on November 7, 2006.
During the 2006 election, the total value of contributions to House candidates was $528,066. The top 10 contributors were:[7]
2006 Donors, New Hampshire House of Representatives
Elections for the office of New Hampshire House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on September 14, 2004, and a general election on November 2, 2004.
During the 2004 election, the total value of contributions to House candidates was $403,625. The top 10 contributors were:[8]
2004 Donors, New Hampshire House of Representatives
Donor
Amount
Democracy for America
$34,500
House Republican Majority PAC
$22,325
New Hampshire Republican Party
$9,292
Chaplin III, Duncan D
$8,000
Lebanon Democratic Cmte
$4,557
Cmte To Elect House Democrats Of New Hampshire
$4,326
New Hampshire Society Of Eye Physicians & Surgeons
Elections for the office of New Hampshire House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on September 10, 2002, and a general election on November 5, 2002.
During the 2002 election, the total value of contributions to House candidates was $379,737. The top 10 contributors were:[9]
2002 Donors, New Hampshire House of Representatives
If there is a vacancy in the New Hampshire General Court, a special election must be held to fill the vacant seat. To fill a Senate or House vacancy, a town or city in the district must first make a formal request to the governor and executive council for a special election. The governor and council will approve or deny the request within 21 days and then set the filing deadline and election dates.[10][11][12]
The state of New Hampshire has 228 legislative districts. The state Senate is made up of 24 senators elected from 24 districts. The House of Representatives consists of 400 members coming from 204 districts, making it the largest lower house in the nation, and the third largest parliamentary body in the world.
Use the interactive map below to find your district.
In 37 states, legislatures are primarily responsible for drawing congressional district lines. Seven states have only one congressional district each, rendering congressional redistricting unnecessary. Four states employ independent commissions to draw the district maps. In two states, politician commissions draw congressional district lines.
State legislative district lines are primarily the province of the state legislatures themselves in 37 states. In seven states, politician commissions draw state legislative district lines. In the remaining six states, independent commissions draw the lines.[13]
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.[14]
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.[14]
Upon completion of the 2020 census, New Hampshire will draft and enact new district maps. As of September 27, 2018, redistricting authorities in New Hampshire had not released a projected timeline for the 2020 cycle.
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 mild: 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.[15]
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, which automatically merit their own representative; the Legislature overrode the veto on March 28, 2012. The Department of Justice -- which has 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.
Sessions
Legislation
The legislation tracker below displays all legislation that the New Hampshire House of Representatives has approved in its most recent legislative session—this includes legislation that has been sent from the Senate to the House and legislation that has already been approved by the House and signed by the governor after its passage in the Senate. Information on legislation provided below includes the bill number, its name, progress, most recent action date, and sponsor. The tracker is fully interactive. Scroll up and down and side to side to see more. Click the bill number to read its text in full and see its voting history. You can click the headings to sort the content in the column. You can also rearrange the order of the headings by clicking and dragging them. Finally, in the bottom-left corner of the tracker is a magnifying glass, which, when clicked, will allow you to search for specific terms. The legislation tracker is maintained and updated by BillTrack50.
Dates of legislative sessions in New Hampshire by year
In 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.
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.
In 2015, the legislature was in session from January 7 to July 1.
Major issues
Major issues in the 2015 legislative session included taxes, workers’ compensation, filing the $50-million budget gap, minimum wage increases, and casinos.[17][18]
In 2014, the legislature was in session from January 8 through June 13.
Major issues
Major 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.[19][20][21]
In 2012, the legislature was in session from January 4 through June 27.
Major issues
Major issues on the agenda included economic development, job creation, same-sex marriage, and gambling.[23]
2011
In 2011, the legislature was in session from January 5 through July 1.[24]
2010
In 2010, the legislature was in session from January 6 to July 1.[25]
About legislative sessions in New Hampshire
The Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution declares that any power not already given to the federal government is reserved to the states and the people.[26] State governments across the country use this authority to hold legislative sessions where a state's elected representatives meet for a period of time to draft and vote on legislation and set state policies on issues such as taxation, education, and government spending. The different types of legislation passed by a legislature may include resolutions, legislatively referred constitutional amendments, and bills that become law.
The Second Part of the New Hampshire Constitution establishes when the New Hampshire General Court, of which the House is a part, 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.
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.
"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."
In New Hampshire, the governor is required by statute to submit a balanced budget. However, the legislature is not required by law to pass a balanced budget.[28]
Every state legislature and state legislative chamber in the country contains several legislative committees. These committees are responsible for studying, amending, and voting on legislation before it reaches the floor of a chamber for a full vote. The different types of committees include standing committees, select or special, and joint.
Standing committees are generally permanent committees, the names of which sometimes change from session to session.
Select or special committees are temporary committees formed to deal with specific issues such as recent legislation, major public policy or proposals, or investigations.
Joint committees are committees that feature members of both chambers of a legislature.
Ballotpedia covers standing and joint committees. The New Hampshire House of Representatives has 24 standing committees:
↑ 1.01.1This date reflects the regularly-scheduled date and does not reflect any change made as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. For more information on changes to state legislative sessions as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, click here.
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See sources: New Hampshire Cons. Part II, Articles 16 and 34 and New Hampshire Rev. Stat. Ann. § 661:8
