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HB 66 · 2025 · House · Judiciary Committee

Right-to-know law disclosure rules

AI-generated

relative to material subject to disclosure under the right to know law.

Modifies who may invoke the right-to-know law and how, adds preliminary drafts distributed to a quorum of a public body to the materials that must be disclosed, allows requests in paper or electronic form, and revises the process for appealing right-to-know ombudsman rulings to superior court.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the Senate — Inexpedient to Legislate · May 8, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill describes who may invoke the right to know law and in what manner, includes preliminary drafts of documents that are distributed to a quorum of a body among the materials that must be disclosed, allows certain persons to request documents in either paper or electronic form, and modifies the manner in which the right to know ombudsman's ruling may be appealed to superior court.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill As Amended by the House (2nd committee). Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“"Governmental proceedings" means the transaction of any functions affecting any [or all citizens of the state] person by a public body.”
Section 1
“In this section, "to copy" means the reproduction of original records by whatever method, including, but not limited to photography, photostatic copy, printing, or electronic or tape recording.”
Section 2
“At the election of such person requesting the records, the public body or agency shall provide such records electronically or by mail without requiring the person's physical appearance at its business premises to receive delivery of the records.”
Section 4
“Any party may appeal the ombudsman's final ruling to the superior court by filing a notice of appeal in superior court no more than 30 calendar days after the ombudsman's ruling is issued.”
Section 5

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Bob LynnRPrimeChair· Judiciary
  • Rep. Katelyn KuttabRClerk· Judiciary
  • Rep. Marjorie SmithDRanking Member· Judiciary

Also: Rep. Jess EdwardsR

Public testimony

31 signed in online · 14 wrote testimony

13% support87% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Good bill for government transparency. Provides strong motivation for intransigent municipality to follow existing law, to provide documentation and to stop making excuses to hide their activities from citizens by denials.…”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuasupports
“The Town of Woodstock is dedicated to maintaining transparency and views the Right-to-Know (RTK) law as a key aspect of that commitment.…”
— Judy Lynn Welch, North Woodstock · Town of Woodstockopposes
“Please vote to ITL this Bill. In this age of very tight municipal budgets and cyber crimes, opening up 91-A Requests to anyone on the Planet makes no sense.…”
— Chris Boldt, Sandwichopposes
“No one from outside a town should be requesting information if they do not live there.”
— Beth Downs, Bradfordopposes

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: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0110h13–4
    Overall
    76% yea
  • Feb 20, 2025HouseVoice voteAmendment 2025-0110hadopted
  • Feb 20, 2025HouseDivisionOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0110hAdopted321–48
    Overall
    87% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • Apr 2, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1005h16–9
    Overall
    64% yea
  • Apr 10, 2025HouseRoll callLay HB66 on Table (Rep. Maggiore)Failed179–191How they voted
    Overall
    48% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    18–1869% yea
    Democrats
    160–597% yea
    Other
    1–0100% yea
  • Apr 10, 2025HouseVoice voteAmendment 2025-1005hadopted
  • Apr 10, 2025HouseRoll callOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-1005hAdopted207–164How they voted
    Overall
    56% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    187–1991% yea
    Democrats
    19–14512% yea
    Other
    1–0100% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 8, 2025SenateCommittee report: Inexpedient to Legislate5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 8, 2025SenateVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 22, 2025Public hearingHouse Judiciary1:06:11–1:11:555m 44slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Jan 30, 2025Public hearingHouse Judiciary34:52–40:455m 53slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0110h — roll call; Executive Session
  • Feb 20, 2025Floor debateHouse floor4:07:54–4:10:462m 52slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0110h — adopted, division 321-48; Amendment # 2025-0110h — adopted, voice vote; Referred to Finance
  • Mar 5, 2025Public hearingHouse Finance - Division I5:46:08–5:55:109m 2slocated in the stream transcriptDivision I Work Session
  • Mar 14, 2025Public hearingHouse Finance - Division I21:44–23:261m 42slocated in the stream transcriptDivision I Work Session
  • Apr 1, 2025Public hearingHouse Finance7:44–11:173m 33slocated in the stream transcriptExecutive Session
  • Apr 10, 2025Floor debateHouse floor1:04:50–1:11:597m 9slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-1005h — adopted, roll call 207-164; Amendment # 2025-1005h — adopted, voice vote; Lay HB66 on Table (Rep. Maggiore) — failed, roll call 179-191
  • Apr 24, 2025Public hearingSenate Judiciary43:54–45:031m 9slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 8, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Vote 5-0; CC; 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 Judiciary HJ 2 P. 4
  2. Jan 22, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/22/2025 10:00 am LOB 206-208
  3. Jan 30, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 01/30/2025 10:00 am LOB 206-208
  4. Jan 30, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0110h 01/30/2025 (Vote 13-4; RC) HC 12 P. 18
  5. Feb 10, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Feb 20, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0110h: AA VV 02/20/2025 HJ 6 P. 45
  7. Feb 20, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0110h: MA DV 321-48 02/20/2025 HJ 6 P. 45
  8. Feb 20, 2025HouseReferred to Finance 02/20/2025 HJ 6 P. 45
  9. Mar 5, 2025HouseDivision I Work Session: 03/05/2025 01:00 pm LOB 212
  10. Mar 14, 2025HouseDivision I Work Session: 03/14/2025 10:00 am LOB 212
  11. Apr 1, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 04/01/2025 10:00 am LOB 210-211
  12. Apr 2, 2025HouseMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1005h 04/02/2025 (Vote 16-9; RC) HC 19 P. 14
  13. Apr 3, 2025HouseMinority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
  14. Apr 10, 2025HouseLay HB66 on Table (Rep. Maggiore): MF RC 179-191 04/10/2025 HJ 12 P. 23
  15. Apr 10, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-1005h: AA VV 04/10/2025 HJ 12 P. 23
  16. Apr 10, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-1005h: MA RC 207-164 04/10/2025 HJ 12 P. 26
  17. Mar 27, 2025SenIntroduced 03/27/2025 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 10
  18. Apr 24, 2025SenHearing: 04/24/2025, Room 100, SH, 01:00 pm; SC 19
  19. May 8, 2025SenCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Vote 5-0; CC; 05/08/2025; SC 20
  20. May 8, 2025SenInexpedient to Legislate, MA, VV === BILL KILLED ===; 05/08/2025; SJ 12

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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