New Hampshire SB 528: prohibiting receiving compensation for lobbying on behalf of a foreign adversary.

Bill Text

SB 528-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

03/05/2026 0845s

2026 SESSION

 26-2120

 09/08

SENATE BILL 528-FN

AN ACT prohibiting receiving compensation for lobbying on behalf of a foreign adversary.

SPONSORS: Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19

COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration

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ANALYSIS

 This bill prohibits a lobbyist from receiving compensation for carrying out any lobbying activity on behalf of certain designated foreign adversaries.

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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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

03/05/2026 0845s 26-2120

 09/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT prohibiting receiving compensation for lobbying on behalf of a foreign adversary.

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

 1 New Section; Lobbying; Prohibition on Receiving Compensation for Lobbying on Behalf of a Foreign Adversary. Amend RSA 15 by inserting after section 5 the following new section:

 15:5-a Prohibition on Receiving Compensation for Lobbying on Behalf of a Foreign Adversary.

 I. In this section:

 (a) "Foreign adversary" means:

 (1) The People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, or the Republic of Cuba;

 (2) Any agency or instrumentality of such governments;

 (3) Any person owned or operated in whole or in part by such foreign adversary, or subject to the control of such foreign adversary, and any subsidiary or parent of any such person; and

 (4) Any person organized under the laws of a foreign adversary or having its principal place of business in a foreign adversary, and any subsidiary of any such person.

 (b) "People’s Republic of China" means the People’s Republic of China and all provinces and autonomous regions of the People’s Republic of China, including the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, and the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China; but does not include Taiwan.

 (c) "Owned or operated in whole or in part" means that a foreign adversary:

 (1) For a person that is a publicly traded company, has the ability to control the company, has access to any material nonpublic technical information in the possession of the company, or has any other rights or involvement in directing, dictating, controlling, or participating in the decision-making of the company beyond those available to a retail investor holding an equivalent share of ownership; and

 (2) For a person that is a privately held company, has any share of ownership of such company.

 (d) "Control" means the power, direct or indirect, whether or not exercised, to determine, direct, dictate, or decide important matters affecting an entity, including but without limitation, through:

 (1) The ownership of at least 20 percent of the total outstanding voting interest in an entity;

 (2) Board representation;

 (3) The ability to appoint or discharge any board members, officers, directors, employees, or contractors;

 (4) Proxy voting, a special share, contractual arrangements, legal obligations, formal or informal arrangements to act in concert; or

 (5) Other means.

 (e) "Foreign political party" means any organization or any other combination of individuals in a country other than the United States, or any unit or branch thereof, having for an aim or purpose, or which is engaged in any activity devoted in whole or in part to, the establishment, administration, control, or acquisition of administration or control, of a government of a foreign country or a subdivision thereof, or the furtherance or influencing of the political or public interests, policies, or relations of a government of a foreign country or a subdivision thereof.

 (f) "Lobbyist" means any person engaging in, agreeing to engage in, or attempting to engage in lobbying activity.

 (g) "Lobbying activity" means any act that meets the definition of lobbying under RSA 15:1.

 (h) "Person" means any individual, partnership, association, joint stock company, trust, corporation, organization or other combination of individuals, or government entity.

 (i) "Foreign adversary client" means:

 (1) A current or former:

 (A) Official in the executive, legislative, administrative, military, or judicial branches of a foreign adversary, whether elected or not;

 (B) Official of a foreign political party of a foreign adversary; or

 (C) Executive or officer of a foreign adversary;

 (2) A corporation, business, or other entity that has b