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HB 1587 · 2026 · House · Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee

Right-to-know access to body camera footage

AI-generated

requiring police body-worn camera footage be subject to the right-to-know law.

Requires police body-worn camera footage to be subject to the right-to-know law and requires public bodies to respond to footage requests within 5 business days.AI-generated

Status

Referred to interim study (House) · February 19, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill requires police body-worn camera footage be subject to the right-to-know law and requires a public body or agency to respond to requests for body camera footage within 5 business days.

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

“Body-worn camera footage recorded by law enforcement officers in the course of official duties shall be subject to public disclosure under this chapter.”
RSA 91-A:4-a
“Prior to disclosure of any body-worn camera record, the public body or public agency shall redact:”
RSA 91-A:4-a
“Requests for records shall be processed in accordance with RSA 91-A:4, with redactions documented in writing, specifying the statutory basis for each withheld or redacted portion.”
RSA 91-A:4-a

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Matt Sabourin dit ChoinièreRPrime
  • Rep. Tom MannionRAssistant Majority Whip
  • Rep. Jeremy SlottjeRVice Chair· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Rep. James SpillaneRChair· Fish and Game and Marine Resources

Also: Rep. Travis CorcoranR, Rep. Henry GiassonR, Rep. Michael GrangerR, Rep. Tim MannionR

Public testimony

18 signed in online · 3 wrote testimony

83% support17% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“The public pays the salaries of law enforcement officers and therefore should be entitled to all body-cam footage.”
— Lillian Gilman, Gilfordsupports

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
  • Feb 6, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Refer for Interim Study12–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Feb 19, 2026HouseVoice voteRefer for Interim Studyadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 21, 2026Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety1:45:42–1:49:013m 19slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 4, 2026Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety1:34:01–1:35:081m 7slocated in the stream transcriptExecutive Session
  • Feb 19, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamRefer for Interim Study — adopted, voice vote

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 1 P. 27
  2. Jan 21, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/21/2026 11:00 am GP 159
  3. Feb 4, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/04/2026 10:00 am GP 159
  4. Feb 6, 2026House: Refer for Interim Study 02/06/2026 (Vote 12-0; CC) HC 7 P. 7
  5. Feb 19, 2026HouseRefer for Interim Study: MA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 9

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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