New HampshireNew Hampshire bars covered foreign nationals’ political contributions starting in 2027
Starting January 1, 2027, the signed law bars foreign nationals covered by a federal definition from making political contributions in New Hampshire state elections and covered local elections or meetings.
What it does
Starting January 1, 2027, foreign nationals covered by a federal definition cannot make political contributions in New Hampshire state elections or covered local elections and meetings.
Starting January 1, 2027, political committees and covered foreign nationals that deliberately break two specified bans must pay the amount plus interest. People responsible for financial decisions must cover unpaid balances.
Starting January 1, 2027, the rules on prohibited political spending cover money and noncash contributions. Ballot measures include constitutional amendments and questions planned for a public vote.
Argument forRequiring payment of prohibited amounts plus interest could discourage political committees and covered foreign nationals from deliberately breaking the specified bans.
Argument againstA committee’s willful violation could leave people responsible for its finances personally owing the full unpaid balance when committee funds run out.
More detail
Covered foreign nationals cannot make political contributions in the elections and meetings covered by this ban. The ban covers state primary, general, and special elections, plus city, town, school district, and village district elections or meetings. This contribution ban does not cover presidential preference primaries. Coverage depends on a federal definition of foreign national that the law references but does not reproduce. The law takes effect January 1, 2027.
Political committees and covered foreign nationals must pay the secretary of state when they deliberately violate either of the two specified bans. The penalty applies to willful violations of RSA 664:4, VI or RSA 664:5, III. These are separate from the foreign-national contribution ban in paragraph VII. Payment equals the prohibited contribution or spending, plus interest from its date. The interest rate is the Wall Street Journal prime rate on the payment date. If funds are insufficient, the committee or foreign national must pay all available funds. Directors, officers, or members responsible for financial decisions are each liable for the full unpaid balance. Other applicable penalties also remain.
The rules on prohibited political spending cover money and noncash contributions used to support or oppose parties, candidates, or ballot questions. A ballot measure means a constitutional amendment or question submitted, or intended to be submitted, to a public vote. The opening spending provision describes the purposes covered by specific prohibitions. It does not prohibit all political spending; the grounds for those prohibitions are not reproduced.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jul 15Signed by the Governor Kelly Ayotte on 07/10/2026; Chapter 314; Effective 01/01/2027Became Law
- Jul 1Enrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15 P. 56To Governor
- Jun 29Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 15Minor
- Jun 4Conference Committee Report # 2026-2030c, Adopted, VV; 06/04/2026; SJ 14
- Jun 4Conference Committee Report 2026-2030c: Adopted, VV 06/04/2026 HJ 15 P. 3
- May 28Conference Committee Report # 2026-2030c Filed 05/28/2026; As Amended by the House HC 22
- May 22Conferee Change; Senator Birdsell Replaces Senator Rosenwald; SJ 14
- May 22Conferee Change: Rep. Lane Replaces Rep.Burnham 05/22/2026 HJ 14 P. 34
- May 21Conferee Change; Senator Rosenwald Replaces Senator Perkins Kwoka; SJ 14
- May 21Committee of Conference Meeting: 05/22/2026, 02:00 pm, Room 159, GP
- May 21Speaker Appoints: Reps. Berry, Qualey, Wood, Burnham 05/21/2026 HJ 14 P. 10
- May 21House Accedes to Senate Request for CofC (Rep. Berry): MA VV 05/21/2026 HJ 14 P. 10
- May 21President Appoints: Senators Gray, Lang, Perkins Kwoka; (In Recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
- May 21Sen. Gray Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment; Requests C of C, MA, VV; (In Recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
- May 14Ought to Pass: MA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 24Major
- May 6Committee Report: Ought to Pass 05/05/2026 (Vote 24-0; CC) HC 19 P. 14Minor
- Apr 28Division I Work Session: 05/04/2026 10:00 am GP 230
- Apr 28Executive Session: 05/05/2026 10:30 am GP 230
- Apr 23Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-1406h: MA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 54Passed House
- Apr 23Amendment # 2026-1406h: AA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 54
- Apr 23Referred to Finance 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 54Minor
- Apr 15Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1406h (NT) 04/09/2026 (Vote 18-0; RC)Minor
- Apr 9Executive Session: 04/09/2026 01:30 pm GP 158
- Apr 8Subcommittee Work Session: 04/09/2026 01:00 pm GP 158
- Apr 1Subcommittee Work Session: 04/07/2026 10:00 am GP 158
- Mar 23Public Hearing: 03/31/2026 11:00 am GP 158
- Feb 26Introduced (in recess of) 02/19/2026 and referred to Election Law HJ 5 P. 124Minor
- Feb 19Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-0645s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 02/19/2026; SJ 4Passed Senate
- Feb 19Committee Amendment # 2026-0645s, AA, VV; 02/19/2026; SJ 4
- Feb 10Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0645s, 02/19/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 6Minor
- Jan 22Hearing: 01/27/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 09:15 am; SC 3
- 2025
- Nov 24Introduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 1Introduced
Civil Rights & VotingGovernment & Ethics