HB 1667-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2018 SESSION
18-2701
03/01
HOUSE BILL 1667-FN
AN ACT relative to permissible campaign contributions by business organizations and labor unions and relative funding source disclosure for political advertising.
SPONSORS: Rep. Read, Rock. 17; Rep. T. Smith, Hills. 17; Rep. DiLorenzo, Rock. 17; Rep. Frost, Straf. 16; Rep. Elliott, Rock. 8; Rep. Higgins, Graf. 12
COMMITTEE: Election Law
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires business organizations and labor unions to make political contributions through segregated funds. This bill also requires political committees to identify their top 5 contributors in political advertising.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
18-2701
03/01
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eighteen
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Paragraph; Prohibited Political Contributions; Business Organizations. Amend RSA 664:4 by inserting after paragraph I the following new paragraph:
I-a. By any business organization, or by any officer, director, executive, agent, partner, or employee acting in behalf of such business organization. This shall not prohibit the establishment by a business organization of a political committee that operates independently of the business organization, provided that the committee’s expenditures and contributions are made through a separate, segregated fund consisting only of voluntary contributions solicited from individuals who are employees, officers, shareholders, directors, partners, or members of the business organization. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to sole proprietorships.
2 Political Expenditures and Contributions; Prohibited Political Contributions; Labor Unions; Segregated Account Exception. Amend RSA 664:4, III to read as follows:
III. By any labor union or group of labor unions, or by any officer, director, executive, agent, or employee acting in behalf of such union or group of unions; or by any organization representing or affiliated with any such union or group of unions, or by any officer, director, executive, agent, or employee acting in behalf of such organization. This shall not prohibit the establishment by a labor union or group of labor unions of a political committee that operates independently of the labor union or group of labor unions, provided that the committee’s expenditures and contributions are made through a separate, segregated fund consisting only of voluntary contributions solicited from individuals who are employees, officers, shareholders, directors, partners, or members of the labor union or group of labor unions.
3 Signature, Identification, and Lack of Authorization. Amend RSA 664:14, VI to read as follows:
VI. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, any advertising in support of or in opposition to a candidate by a political committee shall comply with this paragraph. If the advertising is not authorized by the candidate or candidate committee, the advertising shall so state and shall identify the sponsor of the advertisement. All such political advertising shall include the statement: "This advertisement has been paid for by (name of sponsor) and has not been authorized by any candidate.'' Such statement shall be made both aurally and visually if broadcast on television. The visual presentation on television shall be clearly legible and shall use letters equal to or greater than 12 percent of the vertical picture height and shall be broadcast for not less than 4 seconds at the conclusion of the advertisement. The advertising shall also include a statement listing the names of the 5 natural persons making the largest contributions to the political committee during the 12-month period preceeding the date of the advertisement. If the committee has received contributions from other political committees or organizations, the political committee shall ascertain the identity of the natural persons who are the original source of funds for purposes of determining its top 5 contributors.
4 Repeal. RSA 664:4, II, relative to prohibited political contributions by partnerships, is repealed.
5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2019.
18-2701
11/2/17
HB 1667-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Legislative Budget Assistant has determined that this legislation, as introduced, has a total fiscal impact of less than $10,000 in each of the fiscal years 2019 through 2022.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of State
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 16, 2018 | House | Hearing |
| Feb. 13, 2018 | House | Exec Session |
| House | Floor Vote | |
| March 6, 2018 | House | Floor Vote |
March 6, 2018: Inexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/06/2018 HJ 6 P. 31
: Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate (Vote 20-0; CC)
March 6, 2018: Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate for 03/06/2018 (Vote 20-0; CC) HC 9 P. 17
Feb. 13, 2018: Executive Session: 02/13/2018 11:00 AM LOB 308
Jan. 16, 2018: Public Hearing: 01/16/2018 12:00 PM LOB 308
Jan. 3, 2018: Introduced 01/03/2018 and referred to Election Law HJ 1 P. 19