Bill > HB1359

This bill establishes new requirements for how cities, towns, village districts, and school districts can spend public funds on membership dues for municipal associations, with a particular focus on the New Hampshire Municipal Association. The bill mandates that any appropriation for such membership must be approved by a recorded roll call or ballot vote by the legislative body of the local government. Additionally, municipal associations must provide members with a detailed, itemized statement showing the portion of their budget allocated to lobbying activities and must separate lobbying dues from non-lobbying service dues. If an association wants to receive public funds for lobbying activities, those specific dues must be approved by a separate two-thirds vote. The bill also ensures that associations cannot deny non-lobbying services to a municipality that chooses not to fund lobbying activities. These provisions aim to increase transparency and give local governments more control over how their funds are used for municipal association memberships, particularly regarding lobbying expenditures. The new rules will take effect 60 days after the bill's passage.

Government Affairs

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_Status/billinfo.aspx?id=2281&inflect=2