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HB 1359 · 2026 · House · Legislative Administration Committee

Municipal association lobbying dues rules

AI-generated

relative to municipal association lobbying dues.

Establishes requirements for cities, towns, village districts, or school districts to appropriate or expend public funds for membership in municipal associations, including the New Hampshire Municipal Association.AI-generated

Status

Committee recommended Inexpedient to Legislate; died at adjournment · March 2, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill establishes requirements for a city, town, village district, or school district to appropriate or expend public funds for membership in any municipal association, including the New Hampshire Municipal Association.

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

“Any payment of dues under this section for membership in any municipal association shall be subject to the requirements of RSA 31:8-b.”
RSA 31:8-a
“Any appropriation or expenditure of public funds for membership in any municipal association, including the New Hampshire Municipal Association, shall comply with RSA 31:8-b.”
RSA 47:12-b
“No city, town, village district, or school district shall appropriate or expend public funds for membership in any municipal association, including the New Hampshire Municipal Association, unless the appropriation has been approved by a recorded roll call or ballot vote of the legislative body of the city, town, village district, or school district.”
RSA 31:8-b
“Any municipal association that receives public funds from cities, towns, village districts, or school districts and engages in lobbying, as defined in RSA 15:1, IV, shall annually provide each member, at least 60 days prior to any dues payment, with:”
RSA 31:8-b

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Jason OsborneRPrimeMajority Leader

Public testimony

29 signed in online · 11 wrote testimony

10% support90% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“This bill is an important move towards increased fiscal transparency and local control.”
— Sue Homola, Hollissupports
“I AM NOT ENTIRELY SURE WHY REPRSENTATIVE OSBORNE IS HELL BENT ON DISMANTLING THE NEW HAMPSHIRE MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION. IT SEEMS TO ME THE INFORMAITON AND SUPPORT THE NHMA PROVIDES TO MUNICIPALITIES IS INVALUBLE.…”
— susan snide, Pelhamopposes
“I am writing to urge you to vote "Inexpedient to Legislate" (ITL) on HB 1359. While this bill is presented as a measure for transparency, it creates an unworkable administrative burden for New Hampshire’s towns, cities, and school districts.…”
— Martine Fiske, Keeneopposes
“Enough with the attacks on NHMA! This bill is, quite simply, an attempt to weaken NHMA's ability to educate and advise towns to help them know the law, do their jobs, and help their citizens.…”
— Ian Rogers, Warneropposes

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
  • Feb 25, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate9–1
    Overall
    90% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 22, 2026Public hearingHouse Legislative Administration12:59–21:599mlocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Jan 29, 2026Public hearingHouse Legislative AdministrationWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full stream==RECESSED== Executive Session
  • Feb 25, 2026Public hearingHouse Legislative Administration1:38:52–1:43:094m 17slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate — roll call; Full Committee Work Session; ==CONTINUED== Executive Session

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 Legislative Administration HJ 1 P. 17
  2. Jan 22, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/22/2026 09:00 am GP 234
  3. Jan 29, 2026House==RECESSED== Executive Session: 01/29/2026 10:00 am GP 234
  4. Feb 25, 2026HouseFull Committee Work Session: 02/25/2026 09:00 am GP 234
  5. Feb 25, 2026House==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 02/25/2026 10:00 am GP 234
  6. Feb 25, 2026HouseMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/25/2026 (Vote 9-1; RC) HC 10 P. 103
  7. Mar 2, 2026HouseMinority Committee Report: Ought to Pass

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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