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HB 687 · 2025 · House · Judiciary Committee

Class action settlement fund distribution rules

AI-generated

relative to class action settlements and consent decrees.

Directs that funds undistributed to a class in a class action suit escheat to the state general fund without judicial modification or application of cy pres, and limits certain attorneys' fees to a set rate absent a court determination otherwise.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the Senate — Inexpedient to Legislate · May 8, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill provides that any money that can ultimately not be distributed to the class in a class action suit is escheated to the state general fund, and a court may not modify the judgment or apply the doctrine of cy pres to avoid that result. This bill also limits certain attorneys' fees to a certain rate unless a court determines otherwise.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as introduced. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“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.”
RSA 524:14
“It is hereby prohibited to apply the doctrine of cy pres or to otherwise alter the judgment to prevent this escheat.”
RSA 524:14
“No portion of a class action settlement or judgment shall include payment to entities other than class members or to pay attorneys' fees.”
RSA 524:14

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Travis CorcoranRPrime
  • Rep. Ross BerryRChair· Election Law

Also: Rep. Mike BelcherR, Rep. Michael GrangerR

Public testimony

9 signed in online · 1 wrote testimony

22% support78% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“This limits Attorneys' fee awards in class action lawsuits to that as provided in the Laffey Matrix (local fee averaging). This encourages proliferation of smaller-firm lawyers chasing class action lawsuits for the boosted fee.…”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuaopposes

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Mar 12, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass10–8
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Mar 27, 2025HouseRoll callOught to PassAdopted198–165How they voted
    Overall
    55% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    196–498% yea
    Democrats
    2–1611% yea
  • May 8, 2025SenateCommittee report: Inexpedient to Legislate5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 8, 2025SenateVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 3, 2025Public hearingHouse Judiciary59:06–1:03:374m 31slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 12, 2025Public hearingHouse Judiciary4:34:15–4:44:119m 56slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 27, 2025Floor debateHouse floor6:34:40–6:35:491m 9slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass — adopted, roll call 198-165
  • Apr 24, 2025Public hearingSenate Judiciary1:00:47–1:21:4020m 53slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 8, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Vote 5-0; CC; Inexpedient to Legislate — adopted, voice vote

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Judiciary HJ 3 P. 23
  2. Feb 3, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/03/2025 10:30 am LOB 206-208
  3. Mar 12, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/12/2025 11:00 am LOB 206-208
  4. Mar 12, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass 03/12/2025 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 17 P. 61
  5. Mar 17, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Mar 27, 2025HouseOught to Pass: MA RC 198-165 03/27/2025 HJ 11 P. 78
  7. Mar 27, 2025SenIntroduced 03/27/2025 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 10
  8. Apr 24, 2025SenHearing: 04/24/2025, Room 100, SH, 01:15 pm; SC 19
  9. May 8, 2025SenCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Vote 5-0; CC; 05/08/2025; SC 20
  10. May 8, 2025SenInexpedient to Legislate, MA, VV === BILL KILLED ===; 05/08/2025; SJ 12

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

  • Introducedversion

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.