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HB 253 · 2026 · House · Judiciary Committee

Lawyer trust account interest to public defenders

AI-generated

relative to interest-bearing pooled trust accounts maintained by lawyers.

Requires attorneys who control interest-bearing pooled trust accounts to remit quarterly interest or dividend earnings to the public defender's office, subject to certain restrictions.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · January 7, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill requires attorneys in control of interest-bearing pooled trust accounts to remit quarterly the interest or dividends to the public defender's office, provided that the public defender's office complies with certain restrictions.

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

“The New Hampshire public defender's office shall be eligible to receive the funds identified in paragraph I only if they have not contributed any funds to any non-profit organization or political campaign during that quarter.”
RSA 311:14
“The public defender's office shall also publish its budget in full and according to accepted accounting norms, no later than 90 days after the close of the fiscal year.”
RSA 311:14
“If the New Hampshire public defender's office fails to comply in full with paragraph II, the funds identified in paragraph I shall be remitted to the general fund.”
RSA 311:14
“The supreme court and the New Hampshire bar association are authorized to establish rules governing the provisions in this section, but shall not make or enforce any rule inconsistent with the provisions of this section.”
RSA 311:14

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Travis CorcoranRPrime

Rep. Mike BelcherR

Public testimony

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

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Sep 10, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendarCommittee report: Inexpedient to Legislate15–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Jan 7, 2026HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 5, 2025Public hearingHouse Judiciary1:35:01–1:36:0059slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 3, 2025Public hearingHouse JudiciaryWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamExecutive Session
  • Sep 10, 2025Public hearingHouse JudiciaryWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Full Committee Work Session; Executive Session
  • Jan 7, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamInexpedient to Legislate — adopted, voice vote

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 Judiciary HJ 2 P. 12
  2. Feb 5, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/05/2025 10:15 am LOB 206-208
  3. Mar 3, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/03/2025 10:00 am LOB 206-208
  4. Mar 4, 2025HouseRetained in Committee
  5. Sep 10, 2025HouseFull Committee Work Session: 09/10/2025 10:00 am GP 230
  6. Sep 10, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 09/10/2025 10:00 am GP 230
  7. Sep 10, 2025HouseCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 09/10/2025 (Vote 15-0; CC) HC 51 P. 13
  8. Jan 7, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 74

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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