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HB 218 · 2025 · House · Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee

Free police reports for crime victims

AI-generated

relative to providing victims of crime with a free police report of the investigation.

Grants crime victims the right to request a free initial police report and, after an investigation or case concludes, a free copy of the complete case file.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · July 22, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

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.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“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.”
Section 171:1
“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.”
Section 171:1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. John MacDonaldRPrimeVice Chair· Municipal and County Government
  • Rep. Karel CrawfordRClerk· Transportation
  • Rep. Jim MaggioreDDeputy Ranking Member· Municipal and County Government
  • Rep. Diane PauerRChair· Municipal and County Government
  • Sen. Daryl AbbasRVice Chair· Judiciary

Also: Rep. Rosemarie RungD

Public testimony

9 signed in online · 2 wrote testimony

89% support11% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“My family has been enjoying the lake for over one hundred years when my grandparents built their camp there. We have watched the boat traffic increase every summer with no regard for the for those of us who like quieter activities on the lake.…”
— Mary Crane, Tuftonborosupports
“This bill abuses the term "right" when government cannot and should not invent such false statements. Either the law states something "shall" be done or not, and that would be sufficient.…”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuaopposes

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

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 24, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety4:30:37–4:43:1712m 40slocated in the stream transcript==CANCELLED== Public Hearing; Public Hearing
  • Mar 5, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public SafetyWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full stream==RECESSED== Executive Session
  • Mar 19, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public SafetyWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full stream
  • Mar 20, 2025Floor debateHouse floor32:08–33:161m 8slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0765h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2025-0765h — adopted, voice vote; FLAM # 2025-0948h (Rep. Meuse) — failed, division 157-213
  • Apr 3, 2025Public hearingSenate JudiciaryWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamHearing
  • May 1, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1711s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-1711s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2025-1711s — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 12, 2025Floor debateHouse floor25:07–26:371m 30slocated in the stream transcriptHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-1711s (Rep. Roy) — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 26, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled 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. 11
  2. Jan 24, 2025House==CANCELLED== Public Hearing: 01/24/2025 04:00 pm LOB 202-204
  3. Jan 24, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/24/2025 02:30 pm LOB 202-204
  4. Mar 5, 2025House==RECESSED== Executive Session: 03/05/2025 10:00 am LOB 202-204
  5. Mar 14, 2025House==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 03/14/2025 10:00 am LOB 202-204
  6. Mar 7, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0765h 03/07/2025 (Vote 12-4; RC)
  7. Mar 12, 2025HouseMinority : Ought to Pass
  8. Mar 20, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0765h: AA VV 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 19
  9. Mar 20, 2025HouseFLAM # 2025-0948h (Rep. Meuse): AF DV 157-213 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 20
  10. Mar 20, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0765h: MA VV 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 20
  11. Mar 20, 2025SenIntroduced 03/20/2025 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 9
  12. Apr 3, 2025SenHearing: 04/03/2025, Room 100, SH, 01:15 pm; SC 15
  13. May 1, 2025SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1711s, 05/01/2025; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 19
  14. May 1, 2025SenCommittee Amendment # 2025-1711s, AA, VV; 05/01/2025; SJ 11
  15. May 1, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-1711s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/01/2025; SJ 11
  16. Jun 12, 2025HouseHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-1711s (Rep. Roy): MA VV 06/12/2025 HJ 17 P. 2
  17. Jun 26, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/26/2025); SJ 18
  18. Jun 26, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 59
  19. Jul 15, 2025HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 07/15/2025; Chapter 171; eff. 09/13/2025 HJ 18

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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