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Proposal to bar public‑employee political surveys draws broad opposition from local officials and police
Summary
House Bill 686 would prohibit public employees and public bodies, acting in official capacity, from conducting political surveys or questionnaires on ballot measures or candidates; municipal associations, police chiefs and civic groups warned it would hamper routine public safety and planning work and chill public‑information efforts.
Representative Ross Barry introduced a narrowed bill, HB 686, that would prohibit public employees and public bodies from conducting surveys, polls or questionnaires about ballot measures or policies reasonably anticipated to be submitted to voters while acting in an official capacity.
Multiple municipal and public‑safety witnesses opposed the measure. The New Hampshire Municipal Association said the draft language is overly broad and could prevent officials from doing routine information gathering — for instance, a police department conducting traffic or safety surveys used to inform a speed‑limit warrant article or a public works office conducting pavement‑condition surveys that underpin a bond article. Police chiefs said equipment and surveys used for traffic studies and safety planning would be unduly restricted and that the law would reduce transparency by preventing officials from correcting misinformation about expensive projects.
Open Democracy, civic‑engagement groups and other witnesses said the bill risks criminalizing ordinary public‑service activities, would chill free expression by employees acting in official roles, and lacks clear necessity. Senators asked whether more narrowly tailored language could target explicitly partisan advocacy while preserving technical public‑information work. The committee did not record a final vote on the measure during the hearing.
