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1 Short Title. This bill may be known as and cited to as "The Class Action Settlement and Consent Decree Reform Act."
2 New Section; Judgments; Class Action Judgments. Amend RSA 524 by inserting after section 13 the following new section:
524:14 Class Action Judgments.
I. All money in a class action judgment which has not been distributed to members of the class, or where it has become impossible to distribute such funds under the judgment, shall be escheated to the state general fund. It is hereby prohibited to apply the doctrine of cy pres or to otherwise alter the judgment to prevent this escheat.
II. No portion of a class action settlement or judgment shall include payment to entities other than class members or to pay attorneys' fees.
3 New Paragraph; Attorneys' Fees for Services. Amend RSA 508:4-e by inserting after paragraph III the following new paragraph:
IV. Attorneys' fee awards in class action lawsuits and lawsuits to obtain consent decrees are limited to that as provided in the Laffey Matrix, unless the court determines otherwise.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2026.
Text to be added highlighted in green.
1 Short Title. This bill may be known as and cited to as "The Class Action Settlement and Consent Decree Reform Act."
2 New Section; Judgments; Class Action Judgments. Amend RSA 524 by inserting after section 13 the following new section:
524:14 Class Action Judgments.
I. All money in a class action judgment which has not been distributed to members of the class, or where it has become impossible to distribute such funds under the judgment, shall be escheated to the state general fund. It is hereby prohibited to apply the doctrine of cy pres or to otherwise alter the judgment to prevent this escheat.
II. No portion of a class action settlement or judgment shall include payment to entities other than class members or to pay attorneys' fees.
3 New Paragraph; Attorneys' Fees for Services. Amend RSA 508:4-e by inserting after paragraph III the following new paragraph:
IV. Attorneys' fee awards in class action lawsuits and lawsuits to obtain consent decrees are limited to that as provided in the Laffey Matrix, unless the court determines otherwise.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2026.