HB 456 - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
26Mar2025... 0908h
2025 SESSION
25-1155
08/05
HOUSE BILL 456
AN ACT prohibiting the use of certain local funds for lobbying.
SPONSORS: Rep. Potenza, Straf. 19; Rep. Ammon, Hills. 42; Rep. Noble, Hills. 2; Rep. Mazur, Hills. 44; Rep. Schmidt, Straf. 14
COMMITTEE: Legislative Administration
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill prohibits the use of certain local funds for lobbying activities.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26Mar2025... 0908h 25-1155
08/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT prohibiting the use of certain local funds for lobbying.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Town Officers' Associations; Lobbyists. Amend RSA 31:8 to read as follows:
31:8 Town Officers' Associations. For the encouragement of equitable taxation and the education of public officials acting as state agents in tax problems and other matters pertaining to the proper and efficient discharge of the duties of their respective offices, each town and city shall pay annually to the New Hampshire Association of Assessing Officials, the New Hampshire City and Town Clerks' Association and the New Hampshire Tax Collectors' Association, such amounts as shall be due for annual membership for its officials therein, providing that the amount paid for any one annual membership hereunder shall not exceed [$20] $75. Members of these several organizations in addition to the annual membership [fee] dues, shall be entitled to receive their actual expenses incurred in attending the annual convention of their respective associations, the same to be audited by the selectmen of towns and the finance committee of cities and paid out of city and town funds. In accordance with RSA 15:5, I, no part of the annual membership dues shall be used to pay a lobbyist or an organization that pays part or all of the salary of a lobbyist. However, nothing in this section or in RSA 15:5 shall be construed to prohibit an individual member of such association from recording a position before the general court or a committee thereof.
2 Authorization to Pay Dues. Amend RSA 31:8-a to read as follows:
31:8-a Authorization to Pay Dues. The [board of selectmen may vote to pay, from amounts appropriated by the town for town officers' expenses, such amounts as shall be payable] legislative body may vote to raise and appropriate such sums as required to pay for annual membership in the New Hampshire Municipal Association and expenses incurred in attending regular meetings of the said association. In accordance with RSA 15:5, I, [provided that the appropriation of such dues has not previously been rejected by a vote at the annual town meeting and provided further that] the association shall not record association positions before the general court or committees thereof, but may provide information to the general court or committees thereof. [on matters which do not directly affect New Hampshire towns and cities, nor] The association shall not engage in partisan political activity by endorsing, or otherwise supporting, any political party or candidate. Furthermore, no part of membership dues shall be contributed to or paid to an organization that pays part or all of the salary of a lobbyist, but nothing in this section or RSA 15:5 shall be construed to prohibit an individual public official from recording a position before the general court or a committee thereof.
3 Prohibited Activities. Amend RSA 15:5 to read as follows:
15:5 Prohibited Activities.
I. Except as provided in paragraph II, no recipient of a grant or appropriation of federal, state, or local funds may use the state funds to lobby or attempt to influence legislation, participate in political activity, or contribute funds to any entity engaged in these activities.
II. Any recipient of a grant or appropriation of state or local funds that wishes to engage in any of the activities prohibited in paragraph I, or contribute funds to any entity engaged in these activities, may not use the state or local funds for such purpose. [shall segregate the state funds in such a manner that such funds are physically and financially separate from any non-state funds that may be used for any of these purposes.] Funds from other sources may be used for that purpose if such other funds are not commingled with the state or local funds and are kept physically and financially separate from the state or local funds. The mere bookkeeping separation of the state funds from other moneys shall not be sufficient.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| March 5, 2025 | 2025-0721h |
| March 19, 2025 | 2025-0908h |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 23, 2025 | House | Hearing |
| March 12, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
| March 12, 2025 | House | Hearing |
| March 19, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
| March 19, 2025 | House | Floor Vote |
March 26, 2025: Indefinitely Postpone (Rep. Maggiore): MA DV 187-163 03/26/2025 HJ 10
March 26, 2025: Amendment # 2025-0908h (NT): AA DV 178-170 03/26/2025 HJ 10
March 20, 2025: Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
March 20, 2025: Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0908h (NT) 03/19/2025 (Vote 7-4; RC) HC 17 P. 38
March 12, 2025: ==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 03/19/2025 01:00 pm LOB 203
March 10, 2025: Public Hearing on non-germane Amendment # 2025-0721h: 03/12/2025 09:30 am LOB 203
Feb. 20, 2025: ==RECESSED== Executive Session: 03/12/2025 09:00 am LOB 203
Jan. 13, 2025: Public Hearing: 01/23/2025 01:45 pm LOB 203
Jan. 10, 2025: Introduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Legislative Administration HJ 3 P. 11