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HB 456 · 2025 · House · Legislative Administration Committee

Ban on local lobbying funds

AI-generated

(New Title) prohibiting the use of certain local funds for lobbying.

Prohibits the use of certain local funds for lobbying activities.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — indefinitely postponed · March 26, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill prohibits the use of certain local funds for lobbying activities.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“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.”
RSA 31:8
“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.”
RSA 31:8-a
“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.”
RSA 15:5
“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.”
RSA 31:8

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Kelley PotenzaRPrime
  • Rep. Keith AmmonRMajority Floor Leader
  • Rep. Kristin NobleRChair· Education Policy and Administration
  • Rep. Lisa MazurRVice Chair· Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

Also: Rep. Peter SchmidtD

Public testimony

81 signed in online · 32 wrote testimony

22% support78% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“https://granitegrok.com/blog/2024/03/what-if-state-epidemiologist-dr-benjamin-chan-were-under-a-second-oath Dr Chan should NOT be spinning his testimony to any personal opinion outside of that which ALL doctors agree on.”
— Julie Smith, Nashuasupports
“State employees should always provide just the facts and analysis. Anything else is attempt at political persuasion.”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuasupports
“Please vote OTP on HB456 requiring that state personnel and employees only provide information at the committee chairman's request and forbidding them from political advocacy while on the job.…”
— Stephen Scaer, Nashuasupports
“State agency personnel and state employees are typically well-versed in their fields simply due to their experience working for the state, and therefore, their opinions are well-informed and worth consideration by the committee.…”
— Alice Bobroff, Manchesteropposes
“Why do you want to limit free speech? What's the point of inviting state employees to speak before the committee if you don't want to hear what they have to say?”
— Christie Davis, Contoocookopposes
“Having served in our town government for over a decade, I can tell you that the New Hampshire Municipal Association is a valued resource for our town.…”
— Tom Seymour, Hill, NHopposes

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 19, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0908h (NT)7–4
    Overall
    64% yea
  • Mar 26, 2025HouseDivisionAmendment 2025-0908hAdopted178–170
    Overall
    51% yea
  • Mar 26, 2025HouseDivisionIndefinitely Postpone (Rep. Maggiore)Adopted187–163
    Overall
    53% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 23, 2025Public hearingHouse Legislative Administration4:03:22–4:05:582m 36slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 12, 2025Public hearingHouse Legislative Administration1:33:54–1:37:123m 18slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing on non-germane Amendment # 2025-0721h; ==RECESSED== Executive Session
  • Mar 19, 2025Public hearingHouse Legislative Administration39:35–42:342m 59slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0908h (NT) — roll call; ==CONTINUED== Executive Session
  • Mar 26, 2025Floor debateHouse floor4:51:40–5:01:039m 23slocated in the stream transcriptIndefinitely Postpone (Rep. Maggiore) — adopted, division 187-163; Amendment # 2025-0908h (NT) — adopted, division 178-170

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 Legislative Administration HJ 3 P. 11
  2. Jan 23, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/23/2025 01:45 pm LOB 203
  3. Mar 12, 2025House==RECESSED== Executive Session: 03/12/2025 09:00 am LOB 203
  4. Mar 12, 2025HousePublic Hearing on non-germane Amendment # 2025-0721h: 03/12/2025 09:30 am LOB 203
  5. Mar 19, 2025House==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 03/19/2025 01:00 pm LOB 203
  6. Mar 19, 2025HouseMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0908h (NT) 03/19/2025 (Vote 7-4; RC) HC 17 P. 38
  7. Mar 20, 2025HouseMinority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
  8. Mar 26, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0908h (NT): AA DV 178-170 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 85
  9. Mar 26, 2025HouseIndefinitely Postpone (Rep. Maggiore): MA DV 187-163 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 86

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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