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HB 162 · 2025 · House · Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee

Informed consent for property searches

AI-generated

relative to informed consent for law enforcement searches of houses or other property.

Expands the informed consent law governing searches to include houses and other property and modifies the disclosures a law enforcement officer must provide before obtaining consent, along with applicable exceptions.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the Senate — Inexpedient to Legislate · April 17, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill expands the informed consent law to include houses and other property. This bill further modifies the requirements governing what a law enforcement officer must inform a person prior to obtaining consent for a search as well as any applicable exceptions.

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

“A law enforcement officer may legally conduct a search of a person's home or any other property, including a motor vehicle, without a warrant [under this chapter] if the law enforcement officer expressly informs the [operator of the motor vehicle] person that:”
RSA 595-A:10
“If the [operator of a motor vehicle] person refuses to consent to a search, the law enforcement officer shall cease any further questioning concerning consent to a search unless a significant period of time has passed, or the subject is raised by the person.”
RSA 595-A:10
“A significant period of time shall mean the person and the law enforcement agency involved have ceased to interact with one another and a new set of circumstances or facts have arisen that justify a new interaction.”
RSA 595-A:10
“A law enforcement officer shall document any consent to search either by the signature of the [motor vehicle operator] person on a consent-to-search form providing notice of the provisions of paragraphs I and II at the time of the consent, or by means of a video and sound recording of the consent at the time of the consent.”
RSA 595-A:10

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Terry RoyRPrimeChair· Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Rep. Buzz ScherrD

Public testimony

9 signed in online · 1 wrote testimony

33% support67% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“A warrant is needed and its our right to require one. Its unjust to try and take away our rights!”
— Danielle LaCasse, Newportopposes

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
  • Feb 21, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass16–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 6, 2025HouseVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • Apr 17, 2025SenateCommittee report: Inexpedient to Legislate3–1
    Overall
    75% yea
  • Apr 17, 2025SenateVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 31, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety4:00:21–4:01:291m 8slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 21, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety1:13:12–1:15:001m 48slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Executive Session
  • Mar 6, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 1, 2025Public hearingSenate Judiciary1:27:46–1:33:556m 9slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Apr 17, 2025Floor debateSenate floor49:02–52:283m 26slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Inexpedient 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 Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 2 P. 8
  2. Jan 31, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/31/2025 02:00 pm LOB 202-204
  3. Feb 21, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 02/21/2025 10:00 am LOB 202-204
  4. Feb 21, 2025House: Ought to Pass 02/21/2025 (Vote 16-0; CC) HC 14 P. 4
  5. Mar 6, 2025HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 03/06/2025 HJ 7 P. 4
  6. Mar 6, 2025SenIntroduced 03/06/2025 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 7
  7. Apr 1, 2025SenHearing: 04/01/2025, Room 100, SH, 01:45 pm; SC 15
  8. Apr 17, 2025SenCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate, 04/17/2025, Vote 3-1; SC 17
  9. Apr 17, 2025SenInexpedient to Legislate, MA, VV === BILL KILLED ===; 04/17/2025; SJ 10

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

  • Introducedversion

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