This bill establishes a registry of registered agents for businesses in New Hampshire, aiming to enhance the integrity of business formations and prevent fraud. It introduces a new section to RSA 5, which mandates that registered agents must be at least 18 years old and a resident of New Hampshire if they are individuals, or in good standing if they are business entities. Additionally, it prohibits businesses from using commercial postal box providers or similar services as their registered office addresses. The bill also amends RSA 292:7 to allow corporations to restate their articles of incorporation, and it empowers the secretary of state to take necessary measures to prevent fraudulent submissions to the business registry.

Furthermore, the bill includes new provisions that define prohibited actions related to business filings, such as submitting documents without the consent of individuals named in those documents. It establishes penalties for intentional violations of these provisions and defines terms such as "New Hampshire business registry" and "registered business entity." The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, and is projected to have a minimal fiscal impact of less than $10,000 annually from 2025 to 2028.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 292:7, 293-A:1
As Amended by the House: 292:7, 293-A:1