Revision: May 13, 2025, 8:41 a.m.
HB 218-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
20Mar2025... 0765h
05/01/2025 1711s
2025 SESSION
25-0110
09/11
HOUSE BILL 218-FN
AN ACT relative to providing victims of crime with a free police report of the investigation.
SPONSORS: Rep. J. MacDonald, Carr. 6; Rep. Crawford, Carr. 3; Rep. Maggiore, Rock. 23; Rep. Pauer, Hills. 36; Rep. Rung, Hills. 12; Sen. Abbas, Dist 22
COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill provides victims of crime with a right to request a free initial police report and, following the conclusion of the investigation or case, a free copy of the complete case file.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
20Mar2025... 0765h
05/01/2025 1711s
25-0110
09/11
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT relative to providing victims of crime with a free police report of the investigation.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Rights of Crime Victims; Copy of Police Report. Amend RSA 21-M:8-k, II(i) to read as follows:
(i) [The right to be informed] After the initial contact between a victim and a law enforcement agency responsible for investigating a crime, the agency shall promptly inform the victim about available resources, financial assistance, and social services[.], and the right of a victim to request a copy of the law enforcement report and other documents related to the case, including the right to receive a free copy of the initial incident report. The release of any documents associated with the investigation shall be at the discretion of the law enforcement agency based on the status of the case.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
25-0110
5/12/25
HB 218-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE (AMENDMENT #2025-1711s)
AN ACT relative to providing victims of crime with a free police report of the investigation.
FISCAL IMPACT: This bill does not provide funding, nor does it authorize new positions.
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Estimated State Impact | ||||||
| FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Revenue Fund(s) | None | |||||
Expenditures* | $0 | Indeterminable Minor Increase | Indeterminable Minor Increase | Indeterminable Minor Increase | ||
Funding Source(s) | Various Agency Funds | |||||
Appropriations* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | None | |||||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | ||||||
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Estimated Political Subdivision Impact | ||||||
| FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | ||
County Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
County Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable Minor Increase | Indeterminable Minor Increase | Indeterminable Minor Increase | ||
Local Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Local Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable Minor Increase | Indeterminable Minor Increase | Indeterminable Minor Increase | ||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill provides victims of crime with a right to request a copy of the law enforcement report and other documents related to the case, including the right to receive a free copy of the initial incident report. There may be a minimal cost to a state, county or local law enforcement agency to produce copies of the police report and other documents related to the case to the victim. Such costs cannot be determined as the number of reports that will be requested is unknown.
The New Hampshire Municipal Association indicates there may be de minimis costs of under $10,000 to individual municipalities related to the staff time needed to prepare, copy and review large reports for confidential information within the timeframes required in the amendment.
The New Hampshire Association of Counties does not anticipate significant costs for county government.
It is assumed that any fiscal impact would occur after FY 2025.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
New Hampshire Municipal Association and New Hampshire Association of Counties