Bill > HB1587

This bill requires police body-worn camera footage to be subject to the right-to-know law, which means these recordings will now be considered public records that can be requested by citizens. When such a request is made, public bodies or agencies must respond within 5 business days, either by providing the requested footage, explaining why it cannot be released, or stating the time needed to redact sensitive information. Before releasing any body-worn camera footage, agencies must carefully remove personal identifying information like social security numbers, addresses, and phone numbers, as well as imagery of minors, sexual assault victims, and private locations where individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy. The bill allows agencies to charge actual costs for redacting and processing these requests, and it repeals a previous exemption that prevented body-worn camera footage from being disclosed. The legislation will take effect on January 1, 2027, and is expected to have fiscal impacts on state, county, and local agencies, potentially requiring additional staffing and technological resources to manage the new public disclosure requirements.

Justice

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_Status/billinfo.aspx?id=2107&inflect=2