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SB 270 · 2026 · Senate · Judiciary Committee

Retrieving items from impounded vehicles

AI-generated

relative to allowing owners to gather items necessary for work from impounded vehicles.

Allows individuals accompanied by an impounded vehicle's owner to retrieve personal and work-related items from the vehicle.AI-generated

Status

Referred to interim study (Senate) · January 7, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕Senate
  3. House
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill allows individuals to retrieve personal and work-related items from an impounded vehicle so long as the individual is accompanied by the vehicle's owner.

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

“Any time that a person is storing a vehicle pursuant to the provisions of this subdivision, the person may remove any items from within the vehicle that are not a part of or accessories to the vehicle.”
Section 1
“The person may hold any such items, other than wallets, purses, life essential clothing, mail, legal documents, car seats, eyeglasses, medicine, medical equipment, or house keys pending payment of any fees due under this subdivision.”
Section 1
“Individuals other than the vehicle's registrant shall be permitted to retrieve, at no cost, items necessary for work and other personal belongings from an impounded vehicle if accompanied by the vehicle’s owner and upon producing sufficient proof of ownership of the items.”
Section 1
“The custodian shall allow access to the vehicle for this purpose, provided that such access does not interfere with the removal and storage process.”
Section 1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Keith MurphyRPrimeDeputy President Pro Tempore
  • Rep. Bob LynnRChair· Judiciary
  • Rep. Thomas WalshRChair· Transportation
  • Rep. Joe AlexanderRChair· Housing
  • Rep. Lisa MazurRVice Chair· Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

Also: Rep. Sheila SeidelR

Public testimony

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

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Mar 20, 2025SenateCommittee report: Rereferred to Committee4–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 20, 2025SenateVoice voteRereferred to Committeeadopted
  • Jan 7, 2026SenateCommittee reportCommittee report: Referred to Interim Study5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Jan 7, 2026SenateVoice voteRefer to Interim Studyadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Mar 4, 2025Public hearingSenate JudiciaryWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamHearing
  • Mar 20, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Rereferred to Committee; Rereferred to Committee — adopted, voice vote
  • Jan 7, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Referred to Interim Study; Refer to Interim Study — adopted, voice vote

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025SenIntroduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 3
  2. Mar 4, 2025SenHearing: 03/04/2025, Room 100, SH, 01:00 pm; SC 11
  3. Mar 20, 2025Sen: Rereferred to Committee, 03/20/2025, Vote 4-0, CC SC 13
  4. Mar 20, 2025SenRereferred to Committee, MA, VV; 03/20/2025; SJ 8
  5. Jan 7, 2026SenCommittee Report: Referred to Interim Study, 01/07/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 46
  6. Jan 7, 2026SenRefer to Interim Study, MA, VV; 01/07/2026; SJ 1

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

  • Introducedversion

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