Bill > HB350

This bill requires all family division court proceedings to be automatically audio and video recorded by the court, with recordings serving as supplementary documentation rather than official transcripts. The bill mandates that these proceedings must be broadcast live upon request by the plaintiff, defendant, or their representatives, with a crucial caveat: the presiding judge can limit or deny broadcasting if the opposing party demonstrates that live streaming would likely cause irreparable harm to a party or witness. The live broadcast link must be made publicly available through the local court clerk's office, and video and audio recordings will be accessible to the same extent as other court file information, with the court prohibited from unreasonably restricting access to these recordings. The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, and while it does not provide specific funding, the fiscal note estimates significant implementation costs, including potential technology installation expenses and the need to hire additional staff to manage the live-streaming and recording technology across 32 Circuit Court Family Division locations. The Judicial Branch has expressed a willingness to potentially start with a pilot program to better understand the costs and logistics of implementing this comprehensive recording and broadcasting requirement.

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https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_docket.aspx?lsr=0142&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=HB350