This bill establishes new residency requirements for candidates seeking election to the offices of state representative and state senator. Specifically, it mandates that candidates must have lived in the district they wish to represent for at least two years prior to the election. The bill amends existing laws, specifically RSA 655:8 for state representatives and RSA 655:7 for state senators, to include these residency stipulations. The language added clarifies that candidates must be inhabitants of both the state and the specific district they aim to represent for the required duration.

In the amendments, the bill inserts language that specifies candidates for state representatives must have been inhabitants of the town, ward, place, or district they seek to represent for at least two years before the election. Similarly, for state senators, the bill adds that candidates must have been inhabitants of the district for two years prior to the election. The bill also stipulates that if a candidate ceases to be an inhabitant of their district after being elected, they will be disqualified from holding the position, resulting in a vacancy. The act is set to take effect immediately upon its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 655:8, 655:7
HB1257 text: 655:8, 655:7