HB 391 - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
05/27/2021 1683s
2021 SESSION
21-0475
10/06
HOUSE BILL 391
AN ACT establishing a commission to review and make recommendations on campaign finance laws.
SPONSORS: Rep. Edwards, Rock. 4
COMMITTEE: Election Law
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill establishes a commission to review and make recommendations on campaign finance laws.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
05/27/2021 1683s 21-0475
10/06
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty One
AN ACT establishing a commission to review and make recommendations on campaign finance laws.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Commission on Campaign Finance Laws. Amend RSA 664 by inserting after section 5-c the following new section:
664:5-d Commission Established. There is established a commission to review and make recommendations on campaign finance laws of the state of New Hampshire.
I. The members of the commission shall be as follows:
(a) Two members of the senate election law and municipal affairs committee, one from the majority appointed by the president of the senate and one from the minority nominated by the senate minority leader and appointed by the president of the senate.
(b) Three members of the house of representatives election law committee, 2 from the majority appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and one from the minority nominated by the minority leader of the house of representatives and appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(c) The attorney general, or designee.
(d) The secretary of state, or designee.
II. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.
III. The commission shall, during at least one of its meetings, seek comment from individuals representing the 2 major political parties regarding their concerns and/or issues with existing campaign finance laws.
IV. The commission shall solicit input and receive public testimony from any person or independent organizations that participate in the election process.
V. The commission shall review and make specific recommendations on the following items:
(a) Existing campaign finance laws and any inconsistencies that may exist therein.
(b) Determining whether state campaign finance laws differ from current federal campaign finance laws.
(c) Making legislative recommendations to streamline and improve the current process in an effort to balance transparency and reporting requirements for both candidates and political committees.
(d) Providing direction and clarity for those committees that have local reporting requirements in addition to the state reporting requirements.
VI. The members of the study commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named senate member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 30 days of the effective date of this section. Four members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
VII. The commission shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate election law and municipal affairs committee, and the house election law committee on or before June 1, 2022. The report shall describe the activities and findings of the commission and recommendations for proposed legislation and rulemaking by relevant agencies.
2 Prospective Repeal. RSA 664:5-d, relative to the commission to review and make recommendations on campaign finance laws, is repealed.
I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect June 1, 2022.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.