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--- version:As Amended by the Senate
+++ version:Introduced
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-SB 570 - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
-03/26/2026 1228s
+SB 570 - AS INTRODUCED
 2026 SESSION
 26-2191
 09/05
 SENATE BILL 570
-AN ACT relative to legislative ethics.
+AN ACT relative to the legislative ethics committee and legislative ethics.
 SPONSORS: Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Ward, Dist 8
 COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration
 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-AMENDED ANALYSIS
-This bill adds definitions related to determining conflicts of interests for legislators and adds
-additional budget-related bills, subject to certain limitations, to the list of exceptions to the recusal
-requirements.
+ANALYSIS
+This bill amends definitions related to determining conflicts of interests for legislators.
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
-SB 570 - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
-03/26/2026 1228s 26-2191
+SB 570 - AS INTRODUCED
+26-2191
 09/05
 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
 In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
-AN ACT relative to legislative ethics.
+AN ACT relative to the legislative ethics committee and legislative ethics.
 Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
-1 New Paragraph; Legislative Ethics; Recusal for Conflicts of Interest. Amend RSA 14-C:4-a by
+1 New Paragraph; Legislative Ethics Committee; Definitions. Amend RSA 14-B:1 by inserting
+after paragraph III-b the following new paragraph:
+III-c. “Public at large” means any reasonably large group of individuals or organizations that
+is similarly situated and likely to incur similar benefits or detriments as a result of legislation,
+including but not limited to professions or occupations, owners of widely held forms of property, or
+participants in a commercial marketplace.
+2 Legislative Ethics Committee; Definitions. Amend RSA 14-B:1, V(a) to read as follows:
+(a) A financial interest exists where a legislator or household member is an employee
+of, or receives compensation from, an individual or an organization which[, or a person or
+organization, whether nonprofit or for profit, by which the legislator is employed, or from which the
+legislator receives compensation, to act as the person's or organization's agent or advocate,] could
+stand to gain or lose anything of material value as a result of the official activity.
+3 New Paragraph; Conflicts of Interests for Legislators; Definitions. Amend RSA 14-C:2 by
+inserting after paragraph II the following new paragraph:
+II-a. “Direct benefit” or “direct detriment” means a financial benefit or detriment that flows
+to the legislator or household member without any intervening action by an independent actor,
+consumer, or other instrumentality or action that is not under the control of the legislator or
+household member. A “direct benefit” or “direct detriment” does not include a benefit or detriment
+that affects a marketplace or program in which the legislator or household member participates as a
+member of the public at large.
+4 New Paragraph; Legislative Ethics; Recusal for Conflicts of Interest. Amend RSA 14-C:4-a by
 inserting after paragraph II the following new paragraph:
 III. For purposes of this section:
-(a) A “direct benefit” exists when a legislator or household member will receive a
-financial benefit as the result of the enactment of legislation, unless the decision whether the benefit
-will be received by the legislator or household member is subject to the discretion of an unrelated
-third party. A direct benefit exists only when a legislator advocates or votes in a manner to obtain
-the positive impact of the legislation.
-(b) A “direct detriment” exists when a legislator or household member will experience a
-negative impact on their financial interests as the result of the enactment of the legislation, unless
-the decision whether the detriment will be applied to the legislator or household member is subject
-to the discretion of an unrelated third party. A direct detriment exists only when a legislator
-advocates or votes in a manner to avoid the negative impact of the legislation.
-(c) “Official legislative activity” is any activity that relates to official responsibilities,
-including the introduction of legislation, testifying before any legislative committee or state agency,
-voting in committee or in house or senate session, or otherwise participating in any decision of the
-legislature, county delegation, or any state agency.
-(d) A legislator who has recused from participation in any official legislative activity
-pursuant to paragraph I or paragraph II of this section may testify before a legislative committee on
-the legislation from which the legislator has recused, provided that the legislator makes a written
-disclosure by filing a declaration of intent and makes a verbal disclosure identifying the conflict of
-interest before testifying.
-2 Legislative Ethics; Exceptions to Recusal for Conflicts of Interest. Amend RSA 14-C:4-b to
-read as follows:
-14-C:4-b Exceptions to Recusal for Conflicts of Interest. A legislator shall not be required to
-recuse themselves from participation in any official legislative activity regarding preparation,
-review, or approval or disapproval of the state operating budget, state capital budget, trailer
-bill, or general revenue bills that involve business taxes, meals and rooms tax, tobacco tax,
-interest and dividends tax, real estate transfer tax, communications services tax, current
-use tax, statewide property tax, road tolls, income tax, sales tax, capital gains tax, or
-inheritance tax. This exception from recusal shall not apply to participation in any
+(a) “Organization” means the client and not the person, partnership, firm, or corporation
+acting as lobbyist.
+(b) A person who registers as a lobbyist pursuant to RSA 15:1 does not "exercise
+substantial influence over the affairs of the organization" unless he or she also satisfies the test set
+forth in RSA 14-C:4-c through 14-C:4-e.
+5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
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-SB 570 - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
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-official legislative activity regarding amendments to the trailer bill when the amendment
-concerns solely subject matters as to which the legislator has a conflict of interest.
-3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
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