HB1188 Relative to noncompete agreements for low-wage employees.
Relative to noncompete agreements for low-wage employees.
Impact Score — How Does This Bill Affect You?
Overall Impact Score
Mixed
Scale: 1 (harmful) to 10 (beneficial)
Your Wallet
Low-wage workers gain ability to seek better employment without legal restrictions, potentially increasing earnings and job mobility, with negligible direct cost to taxpayers.
Your Community
Expanded worker mobility may increase labor market fluidity and reduce barriers to entry for low-wage workers seeking advancement, with indirect benefits to workforce stability.
Your Freedom
Employees in the protected wage range gain substantial freedom to change employers and pursue work without contractual restrictions, a meaningful expansion of economic liberty.
Status
Minority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0612h
Sponsor
Alice Wade (D)
The Short Version
This bill prohibits employers from requiring noncompete agreements for employees earning up to 500% of federal minimum wage (currently ~$7,625/year) and voids any such existing agreements. It also caps noncompete restrictions for all employees at 12 months post-employment. Low-wage workers gain freedom to change jobs without legal penalty, but the definition of 'qualifying employee' threshold is substantially higher than current law.
Who's Behind This Bill?
Who Benefits
- ▲ Employees earning up to ~500% of federal minimum wage (~$7,625 annually at current rates) who are restricted by noncompete agreements
- ▲ Low-wage workers seeking job mobility and better employment opportunities
- ▲ All employees (capped restriction to 12 months, down from potentially longer periods)
Who Pays the Price
- ▼ Employers in low-wage sectors who previously used noncompete agreements as retention tools
- ▼ Employers who trained low-wage workers and relied on noncompetes to prevent immediate competitive loss
Bill statuses as of October 7, 2026. Check LegiScan or NH General Court for the latest.
This bill was auto-scored using AI analysis of the bill text and legislative data. Scores may be refined as we review more bills.