Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
← All bills

HB 314 · 2026 · House · Legislative Administration Committee

Ban on public funds for lobbying

AI-generated

prohibiting the use of federal, state, or local funds for lobbying activities.

Regulates the use of public funds for lobbying activities and establishes additional enforcement mechanisms.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · January 8, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill regulates the use of public funds for lobbying activities and establishes certain additional enforcement mechanisms.

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

“In this section, "public funds" means a grant or appropriation to, and received by, a state, county, town, city, village district, unincorporated place, or school district.”
RSA 15:5
“Except as provided in paragraph V, no recipient of a grant or appropriation of public funds may use public funds to lobby or attempt to influence legislation or contribute public funds to any person, partnership, firm, or corporation that is employed to promote or oppose, directly or indirectly, any legislation pending or proposed before the general court.”
RSA 15:5
“Any recipient of a grant or appropriation of public funds that wishes to engage in any of the activities prohibited in paragraph II, or contribute funds to any entity engaged in these activities, shall segregate the public funds in such a manner that such funds are physically and financially separate from any non-public funds that may be used for any of these purposes.”
RSA 15:5
“Mere bookkeeping separation of the public funds from other moneys shall not be sufficient.”
RSA 15:5

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Kelley PotenzaRPrime
  • Rep. JD BernardyRClerk· Science, Technology and Energy
  • Rep. Claudine BurnhamRDeputy Majority Whip
  • Rep. Tom MannionRAssistant Majority Whip
  • Rep. Marie Louise BjelobrkRClerk· Municipal and County Government

Also: Rep. Glenn BaileyR, Rep. Jose CambrilsR, Rep. Susan DeRoyR, Rep. Matt Sabourin dit ChoinièreR, Rep. Julius SotiR

Public testimony

No one submitted online testimony on this bill. See the record

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Oct 29, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendarCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-3026h7–4
    Overall
    64% yea
  • Jan 8, 2026HouseDivisionAmendment 2025-3026hAdopted176–160
    Overall
    52% yea
  • Jan 8, 2026HouseRoll callOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-3026hFailed152–198How they voted
    Overall
    43% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    149–4178% yea
    Democrats
    3–1572% yea
  • Jan 8, 2026HouseDivisionInexpedient to LegislateAdopted203–147
    Overall
    58% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 19, 2025Public hearingHouse Legislative Administration4:31:52–4:46:2014m 28slocated in the stream transcript==RESCHEDULED== Public Hearing
  • Oct 8, 2025Public hearingHouse Legislative Administration37:42–47:5110m 9slocated in the stream transcriptFull Committee Work Session; ==RECESSED== Executive Session
  • Oct 29, 2025Public hearingHouse Legislative Administration47:24–49:131m 49slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-3026h — roll call; ==CONTINUED== Executive Session
  • Jan 8, 2026Floor debateHouse floor4:49:31–5:00:3611m 5slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-3026h — failed, roll call 152-198; Inexpedient to Legislate — adopted, division 203-147; Amendment # 2025-3026h — adopted, division 176-160

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 8, 2025HouseIntroduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Legislative Administration HJ 2 P. 14
  2. Feb 19, 2025House==RESCHEDULED== Public Hearing: 02/19/2025 01:00 pm LOB 203
  3. Feb 25, 2025HouseRetained in Committee
  4. Oct 8, 2025HouseFull Committee Work Session: 10/08/2025 01:20 pm GP 234
  5. Oct 8, 2025House==RECESSED== Executive Session: 10/08/2025 01:20 pm GP 234
  6. Oct 29, 2025House==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 10/29/2025 01:00 pm GP 234
  7. Oct 29, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-3026h 10/29/2025 (Vote 7-4; RC) HC 51 P. 41
  8. Nov 20, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  9. Jan 8, 2026HouseAmendment # 2025-3026h: AA DV 176-160 01/08/2026 HJ 2 P. 53
  10. Jan 8, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-3026h: MF RC 152-198 01/08/2026 HJ 2 P. 54
  11. Jan 8, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA DV 203-147 01/08/2026 HJ 2 P. 56

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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