SB570 — (New Title) relative to legislative ethics.

SB 570 - AS INTRODUCEDAMENDED BY THE SENATE 03/26/2026 1228s SESSION 26-2191 09/05 SENATE BILL 570 AN ACT relative to the legislative ethics committee and legislative ethics.

Executive Departments and Administration ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── AMENDED ANALYSIS This bill amendsadds definitions related to determining conflicts of interests for legislators.legislators and adds additional budget-related bills, subject to certain limitations, to the list of exceptions to the recusal requirements.

SB 570 - AS INTRODUCEDAMENDED BY THE SENATE 03/26/2026 1228s 26-2191 09/05 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six AN ACT relative to the legislative ethics committee and legislative ethics.

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;

(a) “Organization”A means“direct benefit” exists when a legislator or household member will receive a financial benefit as the clientresult andof notthe enactment of legislation, unless the person,decision partnership,whether firm,the benefit will be received by the legislator or corporationhousehold actingmember asis lobbyist.subject to the discretion of an unrelated third party.

(b) A persondirect whobenefit registersexists asonly when a lobbyistlegislator pursuantadvocates toor RSAvotes 15:1in doesa notmanner "exerciseto substantialobtain influence over the affairspositive impact of the organization"legislation. unless he or she also satisfies the test set forth in RSA 14-C:4-c through 14-C:4-e.

5(b) EffectiveA Date.“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 partyA 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 SB 570 - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE - Page 2 - 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.