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SB 534 · 2026 · Senate · Election Law and Municipal Affairs Committee

Political contribution compliance rules

AI-generated

(New Title) relative to compliance with certain political expenditures and contribution statutes.

Prohibits certain foreign nationals from making political contributions during state election cycles and requires political committees to affirm compliance with contribution and expenditure statutes or pay penalties for willful violations.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · July 15, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✓House
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill: I. Prevents certain foreign nationals from making political contributions during state election cycles. II. Requires that political committees that file reports with the secretary of state include an affirmation of compliance with RSA 664:4, VI and RSA 664:5, III. III. Requires a political committee that willfully violates RSA 664:4, VI or RSA 664:5, III to pay to the secretary of state the amount of the relevant contribution or expenditure, plus interest.

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

“The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all state primary, general, and special elections, but shall only apply to presidential preference primaries as provided in this section.”
RSA 664:1
“No expenditure or use of a contribution, whether tangible or intangible, shall be made for the purpose of promoting the success or defeat of any political party, measure, or candidate: 314:5 New Paragraph;”
RSA 664:5
“The provisions of RSA 664:2, 664:4, VII, 664:5, III, and 664:14-22 shall apply to city, town, school district, and village district elections or meetings.”
RSA 664:1
“The provisions relating to political advertising, push polling, and enforcement, RSA 664:14 through RSA [664:22] 664:21, shall additionally apply to presidential primary[, city, town, school district, and village district] elections. 314:2 Political Expenditures and Contributions;”
RSA 664:1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Kevin AvardRPrimeDeputy Majority Whip
  • Sen. Regina BirdsellRChair· Election Law and Internal Affairs
  • Sen. Sharon CarsonRPresident of the Senate
  • Rep. Shane SiroisRClerk· Legislative Administration
  • Rep. Diane PauerRChair· Municipal and County Government

Also: Rep. Jim KofaltR, Rep. Diane KelleyR

Public testimony

52 signed in online · 6 wrote testimony

12% support88% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I'm in favor of the idea, but we should probably allocate funding to audit and find people who do not obey the rules. There are many ways that intermediaries have been used to help elect people in the USA who are favorable to other governments.…”
— james sullivan, bedfordsupports
“I oppose this bill relative to foreign funding and influence in constitutional amendment and local ballot question campaigns.”
— Rozlyn Levine, Hopkintonopposes
“How many of your bills this year will actually help more people participate in our democracy? Not many. This will not only help people be involved but will take cost/effort out of government, saving us money.”
— Steven Borne, Ryeopposes

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 27, 2026Public hearingSenate Election Law and Municipal Affairs18:22–19:531m 31slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Feb 19, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0645s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-0645s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-0645s — adopted, voice vote
  • Mar 31, 2026Public hearingHouse Election Law1:18:19–1:21:152m 56slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Apr 7, 2026Public hearingHouse Election Law4:28–9:134m 45slocated in the stream transcriptSubcommittee Work Session
  • Apr 9, 2026Public hearingHouse Election Law29:40–36:136m 33slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1406h (NT) — roll call; Subcommittee Work Session; Executive Session
  • Apr 23, 2026Floor debateHouse floor3:39:13–3:40:201m 7slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1406h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2026-1406h — adopted, voice vote; Referred to Finance
  • May 4, 2026Public hearingHouse Finance - Division I5:21–8:353m 14slocated in the stream transcriptDivision I Work Session
  • May 5, 2026Public hearingHouse Finance11:57–13:111m 14slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Executive Session
  • May 14, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamSen. Gray Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment; Requests C of C — adopted, voice vote; President Appoints: Senators Gray, Lang, Perkins Kwoka; (In Recess
  • May 14, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • May 21, 2026Floor debateHouse floor1:22:34–1:23:381m 4slocated in the stream transcriptHouse Accedes to Senate Request for CofC (Rep. Berry) — adopted, voice vote; Speaker Appoints: Reps. Berry, Qualey, Wood, Burnham
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamConference Committee Report 2026-2030c: Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled (in recess)
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateSenate floor3:28:14–3:29:1359slocated in the stream transcriptConference Committee Report # 2026-2030c, Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled Adopted — voice vote

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026SenIntroduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 1
  2. Jan 27, 2026SenHearing: 01/27/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 09:15 am; SC 3
  3. Feb 19, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0645s, 02/19/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 6
  4. Feb 19, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-0645s, AA, VV; 02/19/2026; SJ 4
  5. Feb 19, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-0645s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 02/19/2026; SJ 4
  6. Feb 19, 2026HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 02/19/2026 and referred to Election Law HJ 5 P. 124
  7. Mar 31, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 03/31/2026 11:00 am GP 158
  8. Apr 7, 2026HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 04/07/2026 10:00 am GP 158
  9. Apr 9, 2026HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 04/09/2026 01:00 pm GP 158
  10. Apr 9, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 04/09/2026 01:30 pm GP 158
  11. Apr 9, 2026HouseCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1406h (NT) 04/09/2026 (Vote 18-0; RC)
  12. Apr 23, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-1406h: AA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 54
  13. Apr 23, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1406h: MA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 54
  14. Apr 23, 2026HouseReferred to Finance 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 54
  15. May 4, 2026HouseDivision I Work Session: 05/04/2026 10:00 am GP 230
  16. May 5, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 05/05/2026 10:30 am GP 230
  17. May 5, 2026House: Ought to Pass 05/05/2026 (Vote 24-0; CC) HC 19 P. 14
  18. May 14, 2026HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 24
  19. May 14, 2026SenSen. Gray Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment; Requests C of C, MA, VV; (In Recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
  20. May 14, 2026SenPresident Appoints: Senators Gray, Lang, Perkins Kwoka; (In Recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
  21. May 21, 2026HouseHouse Accedes to Senate Request for CofC (Rep. Berry): MA VV 05/21/2026 HJ 14 P. 10
  22. May 21, 2026HouseSpeaker Appoints: Reps. Berry, Qualey, Wood, Burnham 05/21/2026 HJ 14 P. 10
  23. May 22, 2026SenCommittee of Conference Meeting: 05/22/2026, 02:00 pm, Room 159, GP
  24. May 21, 2026SenConferee Change; Senator Rosenwald Replaces Senator Perkins Kwoka; SJ 14
  25. May 22, 2026HouseConferee Change: Rep. Lane Replaces Rep.Burnham 05/22/2026 HJ 14 P. 34
  26. May 22, 2026SenConferee Change; Senator Birdsell Replaces Senator Rosenwald; SJ 14
  27. May 28, 2026HouseConference Committee Report # 2026-2030c Filed 05/28/2026; As Amended by the House HC 22
  28. Jun 4, 2026HouseConference Committee Report 2026-2030c: Adopted, VV 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  29. Jun 4, 2026SenConference Committee Report # 2026-2030c, Adopted, VV; 06/04/2026; SJ 14
  30. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026
  31. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 15
  32. Jul 10, 2026SenSigned by the Governor on 07/10/2026; Chapter 314; Effective 01/01/2027

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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