Business Corporation Board Committee Creation and Delegation in New Hampshire

At a glance

Requirements one by one

Creation and membership

Under RSA 293-A:8.25(a)–(b), a New Hampshire board may create a committee of one or more directors, unless the chapter, articles, or bylaws provide otherwise. Creation and appointment require the greater of a majority of directors in office or the article/bylaw action number, unless the chapter provides otherwise. RSA 293-A:8.01(b) keeps corporate affairs under board direction and oversight, subject to its stated exceptions.

Delegation and reserved acts

The board, articles, or bylaws specify the extent of committee authority (RSA 293-A:8.25(d)). Subsection (e) bars shareholder-required action, filling board or committee vacancies, and changing bylaws. Distributions require a board-prescribed formula, method, or limits. It contains no separate share-issuance or merger ban; a committee still needs delegated authority and cannot bypass shareholder-required approval. Subsection (f) says delegation alone does not establish director-conduct compliance.

Procedure and records

RSA 293-A:8.25(c) applies board meeting and action provisions to committees. RSA 293-A:8.24(a)–(c) ordinarily uses a majority quorum and majority-present vote, subject to governing-document variations and a one-third quorum floor. RSA 293-A:8.21 normally requires unanimous written board consent filed with minutes or records for action without a meeting. RSA 293-A:16.01(a) requires permanent records of committee actions in place of the board.

What trips people up

The board may appoint director alternates under RSA 293-A:8.25(g). Unless the articles, bylaws, or creating resolution provide otherwise, present nondisqualified members may unanimously appoint another director for an absent or disqualified member. That temporary substitute differs from filling a vacancy under subsection (e)(3). Section 8.25 gives no express committee-created subcommittee route.

Common questions

Can one director serve as the committee?

Yes. RSA 293-A:8.25(a) permits one or more board directors, subject to governing documents and the chapter.

May a committee approve a distribution?

Only according to a board-prescribed formula or method, or within board-prescribed limits, under RSA 293-A:8.25(e)(1).

Statutes and sources

• N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 293-A:8.01 — New Hampshire General Court. Accessed 2026-09-27.
• N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 293-A:8.21 — New Hampshire General Court. Accessed 2026-09-27.
• N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 293-A:8.24 — New Hampshire General Court. Accessed 2026-09-27.
• N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 293-A:8.25 — New Hampshire General Court. Accessed 2026-09-27.
• N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 293-A:16.01 — New Hampshire General Court. Accessed 2026-09-27.