HB 1419 - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
12Mar2026... 0897h
05/07/2026 1767s
2026 SESSION
26-2321
07/09
HOUSE BILL 1419
SPONSORS: Rep. McFarlane, Graf. 18; Rep. D. McGuire, Merr. 14; Rep. Mary Murphy, Hills. 27; Rep. Osborne, Rock. 2; Rep. Popovici-Muller, Rock. 17; Rep. Sweeney, Rock. 25; Rep. Ulery, Hills. 13; Rep. Wherry, Hills. 13; Rep. Kofalt, Hills. 32
COMMITTEE: Judiciary
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill establishes a committee to study whether a court with specialized jurisdiction over corporate, commercial, and equitable matters should be established.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
12Mar2026... 0897h
05/07/2026 1767s 26-2321
07/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study the feasibility, benefits, and risks of establishing a business court or an otherwise enhanced business docket with specialized jurisdiction over corporate, commercial, and equitable matters.
2 Membership and Compensation.
I. The members of the committee shall consist of three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; one of whom shall be a member of the minority party.
II. Legislative members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.
3 Duties. The committee shall:
(a) Study the feasibility, benefits, and risks of establishing a court of chancery with specialized jurisdiction over corporate, commercial, and equitable matters;
(b) Examine reforms to the business corporation act and related statutes, including the potential adoption of provisions modeled after, or improving upon, Delaware general corporation law;
(c) Evaluate mechanisms for recruiting, appointing, and retaining chancellors and vice chancellors with deep corporate law expertise, including term lengths, compensation, and appointment processes;
(d) Investigate partnerships with the university of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce school of law, or other local and regional institutions, to create clerkship pipelines, research centers, and academic programs focused on corporate governance;
(e) Assess the fiscal impact on state revenues from franchise taxes, filing fees, and related incorporation services, and recommend strategies to make New Hampshire attractive for incorporation;
(f) Develop strategies for branding and marketing New Hampshire as a premier jurisdiction for corporate governance; and
(g) Recommend any additional statutory or constitutional changes necessary to establish a sustainable and competitive framework and business climate within the state.
4 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the study committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Two members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.
5 Report. The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, the chief justice of the supreme court, and the state library on or before November 1, 2026.
6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| March 4, 2026 | 2026-0897h |
| April 30, 2026 | 2026-1767s |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 20, 2026 | House | Hearing |
| Feb. 20, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| Feb. 27, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
| April 28, 2026 | Senate | Hearing |
| May 7, 2026 | Senate | Floor Vote |
May 21, 2026: House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1767s (Rep. Lynn): MA VV 05/21/2026 HJ 14
May 7, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1767s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
May 7, 2026: Committee Amendment # 2026-1767s, AA, VV; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
April 30, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1767s, 05/07/2026, Vote 3-2; SC 17
April 24, 2026: Hearing: 04/28/2026, Room 100, SH, 01:10 pm; SC 17
March 17, 2026: Introduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 7
March 12, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-0897h: MA DV 189-149 03/12/2026 HJ 8
March 12, 2026: Amendment # 2026-0897h: AA DV 187-151 03/12/2026 HJ 8
March 4, 2026: Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
March 4, 2026: Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0897h 02/27/2026 (Vote 9-8; RC) HC 10 P. 58
March 4, 2026: Executive Session: 02/20/2026 01:30 pm GP 231
Feb. 12, 2026: Public Hearing: 02/20/2026 01:30 pm GP 231
Dec. 4, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Judiciary HJ 1 P. 19