This bill amends the existing law regarding the domicile requirements for individuals seeking to hold the office of county commissioner. Specifically, it modifies RSA 655:9 to stipulate that, in addition to having a domicile in the county for which they are chosen, candidates for county commissioner in Rockingham, Belknap, Grafton, Merrimack, Hillsborough, Cheshire, Sullivan, Coos, and Carroll counties must also have a domicile in the specific district from which they are elected at the time of their election. The bill adds Strafford County to this list, replacing the previous language that only included Carroll County.

Furthermore, the bill clarifies that the new domicile requirements for Strafford County commissioners will not impact the current commissioners' constituencies or terms of office. These requirements will be applicable for the election of commissioners at the 2026 state general election. In the event of a vacancy in a commissioner district before this election, the existing laws governing the filling of such vacancies will remain in effect as they were for the 2024 state general election. The act is set to take effect immediately upon its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 186-C:3-b