SB348: relative to political expenditures and contributions.

CHAPTER 93

SB 348 - FINAL VERSION

03/31/2022 1174s

03/31/2022 1299s

2022 SESSION

22-3106

11/04

SENATE BILL 348

AN ACT relative to political expenditures and contributions.

SPONSORS: Sen. Gray, Dist 6; Sen. Ward, Dist 8; Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19

COMMITTEE: Election Law and Municipal Affairs

ANALYSIS

This bill modifies political contribution limits.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

03/31/2022 1174s

03/31/2022 1299s 22-3106

11/04

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Two

AN ACT relative to political expenditures and contributions.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

93:1 Prohibited Political Contributions. RSA 664:4 is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:

664:4 Prohibited Political Contributions. No contribution, whether tangible or intangible, shall be made to a candidate, a political committee, or political party, or in behalf of a candidate or political committee or political party, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of promoting the success or defeat of any candidate or political party at any state primary or general election:

I. By any partnership as such or by any partner acting in behalf of such partnership.

II. By any labor union or group of labor unions, or by any officer, director, executive, agent, or employee acting in behalf of such union or group of unions, or by any organization representing or affiliated with any such union or group of unions, or by any officer, director, executive, agent, or employee acting in behalf of such organization.

III. By any person:

(a) If made anonymously or under a name not that of the donor.

(b) If made in the guise of a loan.

(c) If any other manner concealed.

(d) If made without the knowledge and written consent of the candidate or the candidate's fiscal agent, a political committee or its treasurer, or not to any one of the same.

(e) In excess of the limits established in paragraph IV.

IV. By a person or corporation in excess of the following amounts:

Maximum amount contributed during exploratory phase

Additional maximum amount that may be contributed for the primary election.

Additional maximum amount that may be contributed for the general election.

Total maximum amount of contributions:

Contributed to:

Candidate or Candidate Committee

$5,000

$5,000

$5,000

$15,000

Non-candidate political committee or political party

$10,000

$10,000

$10,000

$30,000

Political advocacy organization

Unlimited

Unlimited

Unlimited

Unlimited

V. By any candidate committee, non-candidate political committee, or political advocacy organization in excess of the following amounts:

Maximum amount contributed during exploratory phase

Additional maximum amount that may be contributed for the primary election.

Additional maximum amount that may be contributed for the general election.

Total maximum amount of contributions:

Contributed to:

Candidate or Candidate Committee

$10,000

$10,000

$10,000

$30,000

Non-candidate political committee or political party

Unlimited

Unlimited

Unlimited

Unlimited

Political advocacy organization

Unlimited

Unlimited

Unlimited

Unlimited

VI. A partnership or labor organization may establish its own political committee, which may make contributions to a candidate, political committee, or political party, so long as the funds used by the political committee are separate from the other partnership or labor organization funds.

93:2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2023.

Approved: May 20, 2022

Effective Date: January 01, 2023