Bill Text: NH SB111 | 2023 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relative to the town council-town manager form of local government.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-1)
Status: (Passed) 2023-08-09 - Signed by the Governor on 08/04/2023; Chapter 0213; Effective 10/03/2023 [SB111 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2023-SB111-Amended.html
SB 111-LOCAL - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
03/16/2023 0826s
8Jun2023... 1631h
2023 SESSION
23-0787
02/10
SENATE BILL 111-LOCAL
AN ACT relative to the town council-town manager form of local government.
SPONSORS: Sen. Perkins Kwoka, Dist 21; Sen. Gray, Dist 6; Sen. Soucy, Dist 18; Rep. Horrigan, Straf. 10
COMMITTEE: Election Law and Municipal Affairs
-----------------------------------------------------------------
AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill clarifies that towns which adopt town council-town manager charters have the same powers and authorities as city councils under RSA 49-C. It also requires that town clerks be elected regardless of the form of municipal government.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03/16/2023 0826s
8Jun2023... 1631h 23-0787
02/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Three
AN ACT relative to the town council-town manager form of local government.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Local Option-Town Charters; Town Charters. Amend RSA 49-D:2, I to read as follows:
I. As distinguished from adopting a city form of government described in RSA 49-C, a town may adopt a charter pursuant to RSA 49-B [which abolishes the open town meeting and vests all legislative authority in a town council as the elected body or, in the alternative, vests authority to make appropriations in a budgetary town meeting] providing for one of the legislative bodies allowed under RSA 49-D:3. A town charter providing for the form of legislative body pursuant to 49-D:3, I shall have the same powers and authorities as a city council under RSA 49-C, subject to the provisions of RSA 41:16. A charter establishing [this form] a budgetary town meeting pursuant to 49-D:3, II may reserve authority by the voters, at a referendum, over amendments to land use ordinances pursuant to RSA 675 and approval of bond issues consistent with RSA 33.
2 Town Clerk; Election and Bond. Amend RSA 41:16 to read as follows:
41:16 Election and Bond. Every town at the annual meeting shall choose, by ballot, a town clerk, who shall record all votes passed by the town while she or he remains in office, and discharge all the duties of the office according to law. The position of town clerk shall be elected regardless of the form of government established under RSA 49-D.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
