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HB 1384 · 2026 · House · Judiciary Committee

Foreign lawsuit financing and lobbying restrictions

AI-generated

(Second New Title) relative to prohibiting foreign adversary persons or foreign entities of concern from financing lawsuits, prohibiting foreign principals from registering as lobbyists, and requires certain disclosures for persons acting on behalf of foreign principals.

Prohibits foreign adversary persons or foreign entities of concern from financing lawsuits, bars foreign principals from registering as lobbyists, and requires certain disclosures for persons acting on behalf of foreign principals.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · July 10, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill prohibits foreign adversary persons or foreign entities of concern from financing lawsuits, prohibits foreign principals from registering as lobbyists, and requires certain disclosures for persons acting on behalf of foreign principals.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“"Commercial litigation financier" means a person in the business of entering into commercial litigation financing agreements or lawyer financing agreements.”
RSA 294-F:1
“No person or entity shall enter into a commercial litigation financing agreement with, or into an agreement funded directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, by a foreign entity of concern or a foreign country or person of concern, or any entity controlled by any of the foregoing persons or entities.”
RSA 294-F:2
“This chapter shall apply to any commercial litigation financing agreement that is effectuated on or after the effective date of this chapter. 226:2 Lobbyists;”
RSA 294-F:3
“The term "commercial litigation financier" shall not include a nonprofit organization exempt from federal income tax under 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code or its funders if the nonprofit organization represents the claimant on a pro bono basis, which may include an award of costs or attorney fees to the nonprofit organization or a related attorney.”
RSA 294-F:1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Brian ColeRPrimeVice Chair· Housing
  • Rep. Mike OuelletRVice Chair· Fish and Game and Marine Resources
  • Rep. Lisa PostRClerk· Commerce and Consumer Affairs
  • Rep. John HuntRChair· Commerce and Consumer Affairs
  • Sen. Regina BirdsellRMajority Leader
  • Sen. Bill GannonRChair· Judiciary

Also: Rep. Cyril AuresR, Rep. Steven KesselringR, Rep. Jim KofaltR, Rep. Clayton WoodR, Sen. Tara ReardonD

Public testimony

13 signed in online · 3 wrote testimony

15% support85% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“It is presently unlawful to try compelling litigant to disclose parties to a lawsuit. Compelling disclosure serves no legitimate purpose and only serves as intelligence in political enemy surveillance.”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuaopposes
“I oppose this bill as written, not because transparency is bad, but because transparency that chills access to justice is not neutral.…”
— bonnie bruno, hollisopposes
“HB 1384 seeks to impose stringent reporting requirements on individuals and entities engaged in financing lawsuits, intending to bring transparency to commercial litigation funding.…”
— Georgina Lambert, Belmontopposes

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

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 14, 2026Public hearingHouse Judiciary2:00:18–2:08:147m 56slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 13, 2026Public hearingHouse JudiciaryWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full stream==RECESSED== Executive Session
  • Mar 12, 2026Floor debateHouse floor29:12–35:216m 9slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0921h — adopted, division 183-151; Amendment # 2026-0921h (NT) — adopted, division 183-147
  • Apr 28, 2026Public hearingSenate JudiciaryWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamHearing
  • May 14, 2026Floor debateSenate floor9:49:43–9:54:114m 28slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1911s; Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1928s — adopted, voice vote; Sen. Birdsell Moved to Reconsider the following action taken by this Body: Rescind Order to Third Reading; Reconsider the Vote on Ought to Pass with Amendment; Reconsider the Vote on Floor Amendment #2026-1928s; and Reconsider the Vote on Committee Amendment #2026-1911s — adopted, voice vote
  • May 21, 2026Floor debateHouse floor3:33:35–3:38:224m 47slocated in the stream transcriptHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1911s and 2026-1928s (Rep. Lynn) — adopted, division 186-150
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Adopted — voice vote

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Judiciary HJ 1 P. 18
  2. Jan 14, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/14/2026 11:00 am GP 230
  3. Feb 13, 2026House==RECESSED== Executive Session: 02/13/2026 10:00 am GP 158
  4. Feb 27, 2026House==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 02/27/2026 10:00 am GP 158
  5. Feb 27, 2026HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0921h (NT) 02/27/2026 (Vote 9-8; RC) HC 10 P. 57
  6. Mar 4, 2026HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  7. Mar 12, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0921h (NT): AA DV 183-147 03/12/2026 HJ 8 P. 7
  8. Mar 12, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0921h: MA DV 183-151 03/12/2026 HJ 8 P. 8
  9. Mar 12, 2026SenIntroduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 7
  10. Apr 28, 2026SenHearing: 04/28/2026, Room 100, SH, 01:00 pm; SC 17
  11. May 14, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1911s, 05/14/2026, Vote 3-2; SC 18A
  12. May 14, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1911s, AF, VV; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
  13. May 14, 2026SenSen. Birdsell Floor Amendment # 2026-1928s, AA, VV; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
  14. May 14, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1928s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
  15. May 14, 2026SenSen. Birdsell Moved to Reconsider the following action taken by this Body: Rescind Order to Third Reading; Reconsider the Vote on Ought to Pass with Amendment; Reconsider the Vote on Floor Amendment #2026-1928s; and Reconsider the Vote on Committee Amendment #2026-1911s, MA, VV; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
  16. May 14, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1911s, AA, VV; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
  17. May 14, 2026SenSen. Birdsell Floor Amendment # 2026-1928s, AA, VV; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
  18. May 14, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendments #2026-1911s and #2026-1928s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
  19. May 21, 2026HouseHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1911s and 2026-1928s (Rep. Lynn): MA DV 186-150 05/21/2026 HJ 14 P. 18
  20. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  21. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  22. Jul 2, 2026HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 07/02/2026; Chapter 226; eff. I. Sec 2 eff 12:01 1/1/2027 II. Rem eff 1/1/2027

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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