Bill > HB562

This bill establishes a new requirement for filling vacancies in various elected municipal and school board positions across New Hampshire. Specifically, when an appointing authority or board needs to fill a vacancy and chooses to select an applicant who ran in any of the last three elections for that office, they must first offer the position to the runner-up from the most recent prior election. This provision applies to multiple types of elected positions, including school district boards, budget committees, charter commissions, cemetery trustees, district officers, town offices, and supervisors of the checklist. The bill aims to provide a more systematic and potentially more democratic approach to filling unexpected vacancies by giving priority to recent electoral runners-up who have already demonstrated community interest in serving. The new rule will take effect 60 days after the bill's passage, giving municipalities time to adjust to the new requirement. This approach could help ensure continuity in local government and provide opportunities for candidates who were close to winning election in previous cycles to serve their communities.

Government Affairs

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_status.aspx?lsr=0217&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=HB562