Revision: Oct. 13, 2023, 3:10 p.m.
2024 SESSION
24-2781.0
12/05
HOUSE BILL [bill number]
AN ACT relative to prohibiting the use of federal, state, or local funds for lobbying activities.
SPONSORS: [sponsors]
COMMITTEE: [committee]
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ANALYSIS
This bill regulates the use of public funds for lobbying activities and establishes certain additional enforcement mechanisms.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
24-2781.0
12/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four
AN ACT relative to prohibiting the use of federal, state, or local funds for lobbying activities.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Lobbyists; Prohibited Activities. RSA 15:5 is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:
15:5 Prohibited Lobbyist Activities.
I. In this section:
(a) “Government entity” includes a county, a town, city, village district, or unincorporated place, or a school district.
(b) "Public funds" means local, state, or federal grants, appropriations, funds collected from taxes, and other tax revenues.
II. Except as provided in paragraph III, no public funds shall be used to lobby or attempt to influence legislation, participate in political activity, or contribute funds to any entity for the purpose of engaging in the same, including a nonprofit state association or organization that primarily represents such entities.
III. Government entities shall segregate public funds in a separate account in such a manner that such public funds are physically and financially separate from any other funds that may be used for any of these purposes. Mere bookkeeping separation of the public funds from other monies shall not be sufficient.
IV. Any taxpayer or resident of this state may file an action against any government entity for the violation of any provision of this section in the superior court. The court may order injunctive relief. If the court finds that a government entity has knowingly violated any provision of this chapter such government entity shall be liable for 3 times the amount of the wrongful expenditure and reasonable attorney's fees and costs incurred.
V. A knowing violation of this chapter is grounds for discharge of an employee.
2 Applicability. RSA 15:5 as amended by section 1 of this act applies to an expenditure or payment of public funds that is made on or after the effective date of this act, including an expenditure or payment of public funds that is made under a contract entered into before, on, or after the effective date of this act.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2025.