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HB 1436 · 2026 · House · Judiciary Committee

Property rights in digital and cloud data

AI-generated

relative to the classification and protection of personal digital information and cloud-stored files.

Establishes property rights in personal digital information and cloud-stored files, creates a legal presumption of bailment for unpublished content, and requires a warrant for government access absent other legal authorization.AI-generated

Status

Died on the table in the House · February 5, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill: I. Establishes property rights in personal digital information, including data stored on cloud servers. II. Creates a legal presumption of bailment for unpublished content. III. Affirms that digital records are protected from unreasonable government searches or seizures, requiring a warrant unless otherwise authorized by law. IV. Distinguishes private unpublished data from public information for property and privacy purposes.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. James SpillaneRPrimeChair· Fish and Game and Marine Resources
  • Rep. Brian ColeRVice Chair· Housing
  • Rep. JD BernardyRClerk· Science, Technology and Energy
  • Rep. Keith AmmonRMajority Floor Leader
  • Rep. Michael MoffettRChair· State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs
  • Rep. Terry RoyRChair· Criminal Justice and Public Safety
  • Rep. Jeanine NotterRAssistant Majority Leader

Also: Rep. Daniel Popovici-MullerR, Rep. Steven KesselringR, Rep. Travis CorcoranR

Public testimony

7 signed in online · 2 wrote testimony

57% support43% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“We definitely need this legal protection. Now if we only had violation detection, enforcement, and punishment.”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuasupports
“Affirmative Testimony on HB 1436 HB 1436 aims to establish crucial protections for personal digital information and cloud-stored files, recognizing the need for individuals to maintain ownership and rights over their own data in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.…”
— Georgina Lambert, Belmontsupports

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

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings

  • 2026-01-149:00 amHouse JudiciaryGP 230Public hearing

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Judiciary HJ 1 P. 20
  2. Jan 14, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/14/2026 01:00 pm GP 230
  3. Jan 14, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 01/14/2026 01:00 pm GP 230
  4. Jan 21, 2026House: Inexpedient to Legislate 01/21/2026 (Vote 11-3; CC) HC 5 P. 8
  5. Feb 3, 2026HouseRemoved from Consent (Reps. Spillane, Sabourin dit Choiniere, J. Smith, Tom Mannion, Sellers, Harrington, See, D. McGuire, Love, Polozov) 02/03/2026 HJ 3 P. 6
  6. Feb 5, 2026HouseLay HB1436 on Table (Rep. Spillane): MA DV 284-47 02/05/2026 HJ 3 P. 62

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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