SB626 (2026) Detail

Restricting right-to-know requests to persons domiciled or maintaining a permanent residence in New Hampshire and requiring proof of domicile or residency to file right-to-know requests.


SB 626-FN - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2026 SESSION

26-2114

07/09

 

SENATE BILL 626-FN

 

AN ACT restricting right-to-know requests to persons domiciled or maintaining a permanent residence in New Hampshire and requiring proof of domicile or residency to file right-to-know requests.

 

SPONSORS: Sen. Gannon, Dist 23; Sen. McGough, Dist 11; Sen. Fenton, Dist 10; Sen. Innis, Dist 7; Sen. McConkey, Dist 3; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17; Sen. Reardon, Dist 15

 

COMMITTEE: Judiciary

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------

 

ANALYSIS

 

This bill restricts right-to-know requests to persons domiciled or maintaining a permanent residence in New Hampshire and requires proof of domicile or residency to file right-to-know requests.

 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

 

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

26-2114

07/09

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

 

AN ACT restricting right-to-know requests to persons domiciled or maintaining a permanent residence in New Hampshire and requiring proof of domicile or residency to file right-to-know requests.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  New Paragraph; Public Officers and Employees; Access to Government Records and Meetings; Definitions.  Amend RSA 91-A:1-a by inserting after paragraph I the following new paragraph:

I-a.  “Citizen” means a natural person domiciled or who maintains a permanent place of residence in this state.

2  Public Officers and Employees; Access to Government Records and Meetings; Minutes and Records Available for Public Inspection.  Amend RSA 91-A:4, IV(a) to read as follows:

(a)  Each public body or agency shall, upon request by a citizen with sufficient documentation to prove domicile or a permanent residence in this state, pursuant to RSA 654:12, I(c), for any governmental record reasonably described, make available for inspection and copying any such governmental record within its files when such records are immediately available for such release.  News organizations that are located and operate in any state, country, or territory except New Hampshire shall be exempt from the requirements of this subparagraph.

3  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect upon its passage.

 

LBA

26-2114

11/17/25

 

SB 626-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

 

AN ACT restricting right-to-know requests to persons domiciled or maintaining a permanent residence in New Hampshire and requiring proof of domicile or residency to file right-to-know requests.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

The Legislative Budget Assistant has determined that this legislation has a total fiscal impact of less than $10,000 in each of the fiscal years 2026 through 2029.

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Office of State and Public Sector Labor Relations and Judicial Branch

 

Links


Date Body Type
Feb. 3, 2026 Senate Hearing

Bill Text Revisions

SB626 Revision: 49384 Date: Nov. 24, 2025, 1:48 p.m.

Docket


Jan. 28, 2026: Hearing: 02/03/2026, Room 100, SH, 01:20 pm; SC 4


Nov. 25, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 1