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HB 114 · 2025 · House · Judiciary Committee

Right-to-know records fees removal

AI-generated

removing fees and charges for governmental records under the right-to-know law and reinstating potential liability for disclosure of information exempt from disclosure.

Removes fees and charges for obtaining governmental records under the right-to-know law and reinstates potential liability for disclosing information exempt from disclosure.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 6, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill removes fees and charges for governmental records under the right-to-know law and reinstates potential liability for disclosure of information exempt from disclosure.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as introduced. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“Each public body or agency shall, upon request 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.”
Section 1
“If a public body or agency is unable to make a governmental record available for immediate inspection and copying the public body or agency shall, within 5 business days of a request:”
Section 1
“Deny the request; or (3) Provide a written statement of the time reasonably necessary to determine whether the request shall be granted or denied and the reason for the delay[, and an itemized estimate of the cost of making the record available if a charge would be incurred under paragraph VIII].”
Section 1
“A public body or agency denying the request in whole or in part shall provide a written statement of the specific exemption authorizing the withholding of the record and a brief explanation of how the exemption applies to the record withheld.”
Section 1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Louise AndrusRPrime
  • Rep. Keith AmmonRMajority Floor Leader

Also: Rep. Alvin SeeR, Rep. John SellersR, Rep. Kristine PerezR, Rep. Barbara ComtoisR, Rep. Riché ColcombeR

Public testimony

42 signed in online · 10 wrote testimony

69% support29% oppose2% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I don't believe fees should ever be charged for copies of records under the Right to Know law and officials should be penalized for any obstruction of these requests.”
— Harvey Scobie, Templesupports
“This bill is necessary for open and transparent government accessible to everyone. Please vote OTP.”
— Laura Condon, Bedfordsupports
“I am writing to express my strong support for HB114, which removes fees and charges for governmental records under the Right-to-Know law and reinstates potential liability for the improper disclosure of exempt information.…”
— MATTHEW RHODES, Unitysupports
“On February 22, 2024 I received the following Right-to-Know request: "Pursuant to the Right to Know Law (RSA.…”
— Karen Edwards, Durhamopposes
“HB 114 Waterville Estates Village District (WEVD) is committed to transparency and believes that Right-to-Know (RTK) is an integral part of that transparency.…”
— Ronald Beard, Camptonopposes
“Towns should be allowed to charge some fee for people who want copies of everything under the sun. I understand and agree with the right to know but you need to still provide some sort of protection for the town. People are already sue happy. Please stop the madness.”
— Crystal Pelletier, Starkopposes
“The Registry of Deeds recorded instruments are not records under 91-A, however, to ensure that exemption remains in tact, I would like to see a statement to that effect in the proposed legislation.…”
— Cathy Stacey, Salemneutral

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Jan 30, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate13–4
    Overall
    76% yea
  • Mar 6, 2025HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 22, 2025Public hearingHouse Judiciary3:33:15–3:34:541m 39slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Jan 30, 2025Public hearingHouse Judiciary1:35:39–1:36:481m 9slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 6, 2025Floor debateHouse floor4:37:09–4:38:271m 18slocated in the stream transcriptInexpedient to Legislate — adopted, voice vote

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 8, 2025HouseIntroduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Judiciary HJ 2 P. 6
  2. Jan 22, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/22/2025 01:30 pm LOB 206-208
  3. Jan 30, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 01/30/2025 10:00 am LOB 206-208
  4. Jan 30, 2025HouseMajority : Inexpedient to Legislate 01/30/2025 (Vote 13-4; RC) HC 14 P. 24
  5. Feb 10, 2025HouseMinority : Ought to Pass
  6. Mar 6, 2025HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/06/2025 HJ 7 P. 68

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.