Bill > SB261

This bill establishes the Uniform Electronic Recordation of Custodial Interrogations Act, which requires law enforcement agencies to electronically record custodial interrogations in their entirety, with specific provisions for audio and video recording depending on the location of detention. The bill defines key terms such as "custodial interrogation," "electronic recording," and "place of detention," and mandates that interrogations at jails, police stations, holding cells, and other detention facilities must be recorded. If an interrogation is not recorded, the statements made during that interrogation are presumptively inadmissible in criminal or juvenile delinquency proceedings, though courts may allow such statements if law enforcement provides a reasonable justification for the lack of recording. To help agencies comply with this new requirement, the bill establishes an Electronic Equipment Acquisition Fund (EEAF) in the state treasury, which will provide grants to law enforcement agencies to purchase necessary audio and video recording equipment. The fund will prioritize grants for agencies without any recording equipment, followed by those lacking audiovisual capabilities or sufficient storage capacity. The bill appropriates $50,000 to the fund for the biennium ending June 30, 2027, and will take effect nine months after its passage.

Justice

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_status.aspx?lsr=1019&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=SB261