New Hampshire HB 1031: enabling candidates for state office to use campaign funds to pay for security measures.

Bill Text

CHAPTER 208
HB 1031 - FINAL VERSION
5Feb2026... 0293h
04/09/2026 1266s
21May2026... 2127EBA
2026 SESSION
26-2557
08/07
HOUSE BILL 1031
AN ACT enabling candidates for state office to use campaign funds to pay for security
measures.
SPONSORS: Rep. W. Thomas, Hills. 12; Rep. A. Murray, Hills. 20; Rep. Oppel, Graf. 9; Rep. Lane,
Merr. 16; Rep. Telerski, Hills. 11; Sen. Reardon, Dist 15
COMMITTEE: Election Law
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill enables candidates for state office and state office holders to use campaign funds to pay for
security measures.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

CHAPTER 208
HB 1031 - FINAL VERSION
5Feb2026... 0293h
04/09/2026 1266s
21May2026... 2127EBA 26-2557
08/07
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT enabling candidates for state office to use campaign funds to pay for security
measures.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
208:1 New Section; Candidate and State Official Security. Amend RSA 664 by inserting after section
11 the following new section:
664:11-a Candidate and State Official Security. Campaign funds may be used to pay for the
reasonable costs of security measures for a state candidate, state officeholder, member of their family,
and employees of the candidate's campaign or the state officeholder's office, and shall not be considered
personal use, so long as the security measures address ongoing dangers or threats that would not exist
irrespective of the individual's status or duties as a state candidate or state officeholder. Disbursements
for security measures shall be for the usual and normal charge for such goods or services. In this section,
"usual and normal charge" means, in the case of goods, the price of those goods in the market in which
they are ordinarily purchased, and, in the case of services, the hourly or piecework charge for the services
at a commercially reasonable rate prevailing at the time the services were rendered. Such security
measures include, but are not limited to:
I. Non-structural security devices, such as security hardware, locks, alarm systems, motion
detectors, and security camera systems;
II. Structural security devices, such as wiring, lighting, gates, doors, and fencing, so long as such
devices are intended solely to provide security and not to improve the property or increase its value;
III. Security personnel and services that are bona fide, legitimate, and professional;
IV. Cybersecurity software, devices, and services; and
V. Training in, or for the use of, any of the security measures purchased as part of this chapter.
208:2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
Approved: July 02, 2026
Effective Date: August 31, 2026
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