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HB 164 · 2026 · House · Judiciary Committee

Local government records retention funding

AI-generated

relative to local records retention.

Funds and equips local government record managers with online storage of records available for public access.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · July 9, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill funds and equips the local government record manager with online storage of records that are available for public access.

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

“The director shall accept for storage in the state archives such local records as the municipal records board established under RSA 33-A:4-a may require.”
RSA 5:35
“The director shall designate, with the approval of the municipal records board, a publicly accessible website for the retention and public access to local electronic records. 206:2 Local Government Records Manager;”
RSA 5:35
“It shall be the responsibility of the local government records manager to advise the municipal records board concerning local government records policies and procedures, state services and financial support needed to assist or advise local officials, and regulations pertaining to local government [records, and grants for local government records management improvement pursuant to RSA 5:51]. 206:3 New Paragraph;”
RSA 5:35
“The local government records manager, or if the role is not filled, the state archivist, is authorized to employ specialists in records management, archives, and administration, consultants, and/or other specialists necessary to provide a publicly accessible website pursuant to RSA 5:35 and issue guidance for its proper use. 206:4 New Paragraph;”
RSA 5:35

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Joe AlexanderRPrimeChair· Housing
  • Rep. Bob LynnRChair· Judiciary
  • Rep. Katelyn KuttabRClerk· Judiciary
  • Rep. Paul BerchDDeputy Ranking Member· Judiciary
  • Sen. Daniel InnisRVice Chair· Finance
  • Sen. Keith MurphyRDeputy President Pro Tempore

Public testimony

No one submitted online testimony on this bill. See the record

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 22, 2025Public hearingHouse Judiciary6:30:51–6:32:552m 4slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass — roll call; Public Hearing
  • Jan 30, 2025Public hearingHouse Judiciary2:40–3:3959slocated in the stream transcriptExecutive Session
  • Feb 6, 2025Floor debateHouse floor3:03:57–3:04:591m 2slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass — adopted, voice vote; Referred to Finance
  • Mar 5, 2025Public hearingHouse Finance - Division I3:31:28–3:31:5123slocated in the stream transcriptDivision I Work Session
  • Mar 17, 2025Public hearingHouse Finance25:42–28:112m 29slocated in the stream transcriptExecutive Session
  • Sep 18, 2025Public hearingHouse Finance - Division I17:20–18:291m 9slocated in the stream transcriptDivision I Work Session
  • Oct 2, 2025Public hearingHouse Finance - Division I55:10–1:01:436m 33slocated in the stream transcriptDivision I Work Session
  • Oct 30, 2025Public hearingHouse Finance21:56–26:214m 25slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2979h — roll call; Executive Session
  • Jan 7, 2026Floor debateHouse floor8:29:19–8:30:271m 8slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2979h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2025-2979h — adopted, voice vote
  • Mar 3, 2026Public hearingSenate Election Law and Municipal Affairs17:17–18:311m 14slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Mar 26, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • May 7, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1627s; Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1627s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-1627s — adopted, voice vote
  • May 21, 2026Floor debateHouse floor3:24:22–3:26:211m 59slocated in the stream transcriptHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1627s (Reps. Lynn, Weyler) — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor 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 Judiciary HJ 2 P. 8
  2. Jan 22, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/22/2025 11:30 am LOB 206-208
  3. Jan 30, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 01/30/2025 10:00 am LOB 206-208
  4. Jan 22, 2025HouseCommittee Report: Ought to Pass 01/22/2025 (Vote 13-0; RC) HC 10 P. 10
  5. Feb 6, 2025HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 02/06/2025 HJ 4 P. 31
  6. Feb 6, 2025HouseReferred to Finance 02/06/2025 HJ 4 P. 31
  7. Mar 5, 2025HouseDivision I Work Session: 03/05/2025 01:00 pm LOB 212
  8. Mar 17, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/17/2025 01:15 pm LOB 210-211
  9. Mar 28, 2025HouseRetained in Committee
  10. Sep 18, 2025HouseDivision I Work Session: 09/18/2025 10:00 am GP 230
  11. Oct 2, 2025HouseDivision I Work Session: 10/02/2025 01:00 pm GP 230
  12. Oct 30, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 10/30/2025 10:00 am GP 230
  13. Oct 30, 2025House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2979h 10/30/2025 (Vote 25-0; RC) HC 51 P. 34
  14. Jan 7, 2026HouseAmendment # 2025-2979h: AA VV 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 178
  15. Jan 7, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2979h: MA VV 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 178
  16. Jan 29, 2026SenIntroduced 01/29/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 3
  17. Mar 3, 2026SenHearing: 03/03/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 09:15 am; SC 7
  18. Mar 26, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass, 03/26/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 11
  19. Mar 26, 2026SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
  20. May 7, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1627s, 05/07/2026; Vote 7-0; CC; SC 17
  21. May 7, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1627s, AA, VV; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
  22. May 7, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1627s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
  23. May 21, 2026HouseHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1627s (Reps. Lynn, Weyler): MA VV 05/21/2026 HJ 14 P. 16
  24. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  25. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  26. Jul 2, 2026HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 07/02/2026; Chapter 206; eff. 8/31/2026

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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