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NHMA pushes back as lawmakers press bills to require local votes, oversight of municipal association
Summary
Two bills before the Legislative Administration Committee would require recorded local votes before municipal dues fund lobbying and create a legislative oversight panel for the New Hampshire Municipal Association. NHMA and municipal officials testified the measures would impose costly restructuring and raise constitutional and conflict‑of‑interest concerns.
Representative Jason Osborne introduced two companion proposals — HB 13‑59 and HB 13‑60 — intended to add transparency and legislative oversight when municipalities use taxpayer dollars for lobbying. HB 13‑59 would require a recorded vote by the municipal legislative body before dues paid with public funds may be used for lobbying; HB 13‑60 would create a legislative oversight commission with authority to suspend NHMA’s lobbying activities if the commission believes those activities run counter to municipal interests.
The New Hampshire Municipal Association’s executive director, Margaret Burns, strongly opposed both bills in testimony to the committee. Burns told members the bills would not only force NHMA to split educational and lobbying services into separate entities, it would also demand an unusually high two‑thirds vote and impose organizational…
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