HB1360

NHMA is an essential tool for all towns. NHMA saves all the towns time and money by collecting all Towns information and letting the state legislature know where the majority of towns stand on different proposed bills. The state legislature should not be controlling NHMA.

This bill if passed would be a huge overreach by the legislature. It has no merit and would increase the cost of NHMA to provide its valuable and needed services to municipalities and their residents. It should be voted ITL ASAP.

This bill is an attempt to micromanage a nongovernmental membership organization by the Legislature. The ongoing targeting of the New Hampshire Municipal Association by some in the legislature is inappropriate and concerning. NHMA is a voluntary membership organization, not unlike many such organizations in our state, that succeeds or fails based on the satisfaction of its members - not on the whims of a group of Legislators who have what seems to be personal vendettas.

The small town and village district in our area would be negatively impacted by this bill. It singles out one ngo, which advocates for NH local governments and their citizens, and seeks to put it under the oversight of the state legislature, which is often in opposition to the best interests of the towns and villages the NHMA represents. Vote ITL on HB 1360.

legislature attempting to micromanage a private organization

This bill is a naked attempt to intimidate NHMA and frustrate the valuable work it performs for local governments and citizens. It’s an embarrassment to our state government that such a blatantly undemocratic piece of legislation would merit even a hearing. What is wrong with Republicans in state government?

Enough with the attacks on NHMA! This bill is, quite simply, an attempt to weaken NHMA's ability to educate and advise towns to help them know the law, do their jobs, and help their citizens. We in Warner are facing a major skills and knowledge gap now at Town Hall, as we've had many employees leave or retire in the last two years. NHMA has been a godsend for helping us through this difficult time, and I vehemently oppose any obstacles that will make it difficult for them to continue to help towns.

I am writing to express my strong opposition to HB 1360, which proposes the establishment of a Legislative Commission on Municipal Association Oversight. While this bill is framed as a transparency measure, its practical effect is to create a state-level "chokehold" on the collective voice of New Hampshire’s towns, cities, and school districts. Taxpayers rely on the New Hampshire Municipal Association (NHMA) to serve as a watchdog in Concord, ensuring that state-level mandates do not unfairly drive up our local property taxes and make inefficiencies in governance. HB 1360 threatens this essential function in several critical ways: 1. Political Interference in Local Advocacy The proposed commission is heavily weighted toward state officials (5 of 7 members). This creates a direct conflict of interest: the very body being lobbied (the State) would have the power to suspend the lobbyist (the NHMA). Under Section 17-T:3, this commission could silence NHMA’s advocacy based on subjective findings. This would leave our local communities voiceless during critical legislative debates. 2. Disproportionate Penalties and Administrative "Hair-Triggers" HB 1360 introduces "automatic" prohibitions on advocacy for simple administrative delays. If a report is filed one day late, the association is automatically banned from engaging in legislative advocacy. Such a draconian penalty is unheard of for other nonprofit entities and serves only to strip municipalities of their representation due to paperwork technicalities. 3. Duplication of Existing Transparency The NHMA is already a transparent organization. It is governed by a board of local elected officials, files public IRS Form 990s, and its lobbyists are already registered and reported under RSA 15. Staffing this commission diverts state resources away from auditing state agencies and places the cost of additional reporting on local dues-payers. 4. Violation of Attorney-Client Privilege By requiring detailed reporting of "expenditures for legal services and outside counsel," this bill risks exposing the sensitive legal strategies of municipalities. Our towns must be able to seek confidential legal guidance on complex state regulations without a state commission looking over their shoulders. 5. The "Snowball Effect" of Discriminatory Oversight By targeting a single organization for state-run oversight, HB 1360 creates a dangerous and discriminatory precedent. If the State justifies this commission because NHMA receives "public monies" via dues, then every nonprofit, chamber of commerce, or social service agency that receives a municipal grant or state contract could be next. This "snowball effect" would lead to a massive expansion of state bureaucracy, requiring the legislature to oversee dozens of private organizations. We should not create a system where the government monitors the internal finances of private entities simply because they are effective at advocating for their members. Our municipalities are not agencies of the state; they are communities of citizens. We have a right to associate and advocate for our local interests without state-mandated "oversight" designed to curb our influence. I urge you to support local control and protect the independence of municipal advocacy by voting Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL) on HB 1360.

I AM NOT ENTIRELY SURE WHY REPRSENTATIVE OSBORNE IS INSISTENT ON DISMANTLING THE NEW HAMPSHIRE MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION. IF MUNICIPALITIES WERE CONCERNED WITH THE SPEDNING OF THE NHMA, THEY CAN ASK TO SEE THE BOOKS.