Bill > HB248

This bill introduces several provisions related to state employee investigations and legislative ethics. First, it requires that when a state employee is suspended with pay, they must receive a written notice explaining the reasons for the suspension within 7 days, though this does not apply to employees covered by collective bargaining agreements. The bill also defines several key terms for legislative ethics purposes: "public at large" is defined as a reasonably large group of individuals or organizations likely to experience similar benefits or detriments from legislation; "direct benefit" is specified as a financial advantage that flows directly to a legislator or household member without intermediary actions; and "special interest" is expanded to include financial interests where a legislator or household member is employed by or receives compensation from an organization that could gain or lose material value from official activities. Additionally, the bill clarifies rules about organizational influence in lobbying, specifying that the organization itself is the client and that being a registered lobbyist does not automatically mean exercising substantial influence over an organization's affairs. The bill will take effect 90 days after its passage, providing time for state agencies and legislators to understand and implement the new requirements.

Government Affairs, Labor and Employment

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_docket.aspx?lsr=0209&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=HB248