HB 340-FN - AS INTRODUCED SESSION 25-0651 08/06 HOUSE BILL 340-FN AN ACT relative to electioneering by public employees.

SPONSORS:

44;44 January 21, 2025 2025-0029h 08/05 Amendment to HB 340-FN Amend the bill by replacing all after the enacting clause with the following:

Rep.3 1 Electioneering by Public Employees.

Alexander Jr., Hills.

29;

Rep.

Corcoran, Hills.

28;

Rep.

Mazur, Hills.

44;

Rep.

Seidel, Hills.

29;

Sen.

Murphy, Dist 16 COMMITTEE:

Election Law ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ANALYSIS This bill defines electioneering in relation to public employees - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

HB 340-FN - AS INTRODUCED 25-0651 08/06 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five AN ACT relative to electioneering by public employees.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Electioneering by Public Employees.

No public employee,employee as defined in RSA 273-A:1, IX, shall electioneer while in the performance of his or her official duties.

For purposes of this section, "public employee" shall have the same meaning as in RSA 273-A:1, IX;

except that, notwithstanding RSA 273-A:1, IX(b), a person appointed to office by the chief executive or legislative body of the public employer shall be included in the definition of public employee.

VI.IV.

(c) Public employees engaging in strictly neutral voter registration drives or activities limited to general election awareness, such as announcing election dates or polling locations, without Amendment to HB 340-FN - Page 2 - any reference to or discussion of candidates, parties, or measures, and provided such activities are authorized by law.

HB 340-FN - AS INTRODUCED - Page 2 - (d) Public employees providing factual information derived directly from official filing forms or other legally required public documents regarding candidates who have officially filed for office, provided such information is presented in an impartial and neutral manner without additional commentary, analysis, or inference.

VII.V.

This act shall take effect Januaryupon 1,its 2026.passage.

LBA 25-0651 12/27/24 HB 340-FN- FISCAL NOTE AS INTRODUCED AN ACT relative to electioneering by public employees.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Estimated State Impact FY 2025 FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028 Revenue $0 $0 $0 $0 Revenue Fund None Expenditures* Indeterminable Funding Source General Fund Appropriations* $0 $0 $0 $0 Funding Source None *Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill Estimated Political Subdivision Impact FY 2025 FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028 County Revenue $0 $0 $0 $0 County Expenditures Indeterminable Local Revenue $0 $0 $0 $0 Local Expenditures Indeterminable   METHODOLOGY:

This bill adds, deletes, or modifies a criminal penalty, or changes statute to which there is a penalty for violation.

Therefore, this bill may have an impact on the judicial and correctional systems, which could affect prosecution, incarceration, probation, and parole costs, for the state, as well as county and local governments.

A summary of such costs can be found at:

https://gencourt.state.nh.us/lba/Budget/Fiscal_Notes/JudicialCorrectionalCosts.pdf AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Judicial Branch, Judicial Council, Department of Justice, Department of Corrections, New Hampshire Association of Counties, and New Hampshire Municipal Association