Bill > HB687

This bill, known as "The Class Action Settlement and Consent Decree Reform Act," introduces two primary changes to how class action lawsuits are handled. First, it mandates that any money in a class action judgment that cannot be distributed to class members must be escheated (transferred) to the state's general fund, and specifically prohibits courts from using the cy pres doctrine (a legal mechanism that allows redirecting unclaimed funds to alternative beneficiaries) to prevent this transfer. Second, the bill limits attorneys' fees in class action lawsuits and consent decrees to the rates specified in the Laffey Matrix (a standardized schedule of attorney hourly rates used in Washington, D.C.), unless a court determines that a different rate is appropriate. Additionally, the bill stipulates that no portion of a class action settlement can include payments to entities other than class members or attorneys. The legislation is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, and could potentially increase state revenue by redirecting unclaimed settlement funds while potentially discouraging class action litigation due to the attorneys' fees limitations.

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https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_docket.aspx?lsr=0388&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=HB687