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HB 350 · 2025 · House · Children and Family Law Committee

Recording and broadcasting family court hearings

AI-generated

requiring that all family division hearings be video and audio recorded and broadcast live.

Requires family division proceedings to be audio and video recorded and broadcast live upon request of named parties or their representatives.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 requires that the family division audio and video record all proceedings and broadcast live proceedings upon request of named parties or representatives.

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

“Recordings made under this section shall not be considered the official transcript of the proceedings.”
RSA 490-D:16
“Only transcriptions prepared by a designated transcriber authorized under supreme court order or rule shall be the official record.”
RSA 490-D:16
“The family division shall broadcast live any family division proceeding that is not deemed confidential or closed to the public by statute, court rule, or order, if requested to do so by the plaintiff, defendant, or named representative for either.”
RSA 490-D:16
“The presiding judge shall grant the request unless the opposing party or named representative shows by a preponderance of the evidence that the broadcast is more likely than not to cause specific irreparable harm to a party or witness.”
RSA 490-D:16

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Lisa PostRPrimeClerk· Commerce and Consumer Affairs
  • Rep. Erica LayonRChair· Executive Departments and Administration

Also: Rep. Jess EdwardsR, Rep. Kristine PerezR, Rep. Susan DeRoyR, Rep. Cyril AuresR, Rep. David LoveR

Public testimony

22 signed in online · 6 wrote testimony

27% support73% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“This is necessary for the protection of the citizens of New Hampshire and for transparency”
— KRISTINE PEREZ, LONDONDERRYsupports
“I am in full support of HB350, which mandates the recording of all family division hearings. This measure is essential for promoting transparency in a system where decisions profoundly affect families and children.…”
— Leah Cushman, Wearesupports
“There are several ways to safeguard private information by blocking the broadcasting if responsible people deem it potentially harmful. In actuality, the massive secrecy of family court is hiding terrible injustice. Appeals are restricted to failure to follow procedure.…”
— Hon. Betty Gay, Salemsupports
“The NH Office of the Child Advocate has concerns about HB350 requiring that all family division hearings be video and audio recorded and broadcast live, as currently written.…”
— Lissa Mascio, Concord · NH Office of the Child Advocateopposes
“The internet is forever & the children involved in these cases deserve privacy. This is simply to intimidate witnesses who would testify. Especially the kids. This is abuse proposed by abusers.…”
— Margaret Konze, Pembrokeopposes

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 18, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate14–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 6, 2025HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 4, 2025Public hearingHouse Children and Family Law3:42:40–3:43:0929slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 18, 2025Public hearingHouse Children and Family Law1:44:04–1:50:226m 18slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Executive Session
  • Mar 6, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamInexpedient 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 Children and Family Law HJ 2 P. 16
  2. Feb 4, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/04/2025 01:00 pm LOB 206-208
  3. Feb 18, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 02/18/2025 10:30 am LOB 206-208
  4. Feb 18, 2025HouseCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/18/2025 (Vote 14-0; CC) HC 14 P. 3
  5. Mar 6, 2025HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/06/2025 HJ 7 P. 3

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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