Signed by Governor Maggie Hassan

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with House amendments and pass a bill that requires certain political organizations to disclose individual contributors.

Highlights:

• Authorizes a “political committee” to register for an election cycle with the secretary of state after the final report is due following the most recent general election (Sec. 5).

• Defines “political committee” as including, but not being limited to, the following entities (Sec. 1):
• An organization of at least 2 individuals that promote the success or defeat of a candidate or measure;
• A segregated fund established to promote the success or defeat of a candidate or measure; or
• An organization with a main purpose to promote the success or defeat of a candidate or measure and makes expenditures totaling more than $2,500 in a calendar year. 

• Specifies that a committee’s registration must be received no later than 48 hours after the committee meets at least 1 of the criteria of being a “political committee”(Sec. 5). 

• Requires an itemized statement of receipts and expenditures made by the political committee in the election cycle to accompany the committee’s registration (Sec. 5). 

• Specifies that each committee “expenditure” exceeding $25 must be included in an itemized statement with the full name and postal address of the payee or promise of payment along with the date paid or obligated, and each “expenditure” exceeding $500 must be reported to the Secretary of State no later than 48 hours after such expenditure is made (Secs. 7 & 9). 

• Expands the definition of “expenditure” to include the transfer of funds by a political committee to another political committee or candidate for the purpose of promoting the success or defeat of a candidate or measure (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that the definition of “expenditure” does not include (Sec. 2):
• Any activity designed to encourage individuals to register to vote or vote, if the activities do not mention a clearly identified candidate; 
• Any communication by any membership organization or corporation to its members or stockholders, if the communication is not for campaigning purposes; and 
• Any communication by any political committee member, if the communication is not made for campaigning purposes. 

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires certain political organizations to disclose their individual contributors.

Highlights:

• Authorizes a “political committee” to register for an election cycle with the secretary of state after the final report is due following the most recent general election (Sec. 5).

• Defines “political committee” as including, but not being limited to, the following entities (Sec. 1):
• An organization of at least 2 individuals that promote the success or defeat of a candidate or measure;
• A segregated fund established to promote the success or defeat of a candidate or measure; or
• An organization with a main purpose to promote the success or defeat of a candidate or measure and makes expenditures totaling more than $2,500 in a calendar year. 

• Specifies that a committee’s registration must be received no later than 48 hours after the committee meets at least 1 of the criteria of being a “political committee”(Sec. 5). 

• Requires an itemized statement of receipts and expenditures made by the political committee in the election cycle to accompany the committee’s registration (Sec. 5). 

• Specifies that each committee “expenditure” exceeding $25 must be included in an itemized statement with the full name and postal address of the payee or promise of payment along with the date paid or obligated, and each “expenditure” exceeding $500 must be reported to the Secretary of State no later than 48 hours after such expenditure is made (Secs. 7 & 9). 

• Expands the definition of “expenditure” to include the transfer of funds by a political committee to another political committee or candidate for the purpose of promoting the success or defeat of a candidate or measure (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that the definition of “expenditure” does not include (Sec. 2):
• Any activity designed to encourage individuals to register to vote or vote, if the activities do not mention a clearly identified candidate; 
• Any communication by any membership organization or corporation to its members or stockholders, if the communication is not for campaigning purposes; and 
• Any communication by any political committee member, if the communication is not made for campaigning purposes. 

Full Bill Text