Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
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HB 1746 · 2026 · House · Judiciary Committee

Right-to-know law for taxpayer-funded probes

AI-generated

subjecting taxpayer funded investigations to the right-to-know law.

Requires certain information from investigations funded with public money to be subject to the right-to-know law.AI-generated

Status

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

Analysis

This bill requires certain information from investigations funded using public money to be subject to the right-to-know-law.

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

“Notwithstanding RSA 91-A:5, any record, report, or other material generated in the course of an investigation funded in whole or in part with public funds shall be subject to disclosure under this chapter, provided that:”
Section 2
“The public body or agency may redact only those portions necessary to comply with federal or state law protecting personal privacy, including but not limited to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), or other applicable statutory privileges.”
Section 2
“Such redactions shall be narrowly tailored to remove only information strictly required by law to be withheld.”
Section 2
“Findings, conclusions, recommendations, and factual summaries shall not be withheld in their entirety on the basis of privacy exemptions.”
Section 2

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Matt Sabourin dit ChoinièreRPrime
  • Rep. Keith AmmonRMajority Floor Leader
  • Rep. Tom MannionRAssistant Majority Whip
  • Rep. James SpillaneRChair· Fish and Game and Marine Resources

Also: Rep. Glenn BaileyR, Rep. Travis CorcoranR, Rep. Michael GrangerR, Rep. Tim MannionR

Public testimony

18 signed in online · 3 wrote testimony

94% support6% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“As a long time Rochester, NH resident since 2002, I filed a right to know with my local school district in September regarding an investigative report completed on the previous Superintendent Annie Azarloza.…”
— Shelley Grosky, Rochestersupports
“It's hard to say anything that Carla didn't already in her amazing, intelligent testimony please, pass this bill into law”
— Maura Annette Chappelle, Colebrooksupports

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 21, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Refer for Interim Study15–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Feb 5, 2026HouseVoice voteRefer for Interim Studyadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 21, 2026Public hearingHouse Judiciary1:39:03–1:43:084m 5slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Refer for Interim Study; Public Hearing; Executive Session
  • Feb 5, 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 Judiciary HJ 1 P. 34
  2. Jan 21, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/21/2026 10:30 am GP 230
  3. Jan 21, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 01/21/2026 10:30 am GP 230
  4. Jan 21, 2026House: Refer for Interim Study 01/21/2026 (Vote 15-0; CC) HC 5 P. 9
  5. Feb 5, 2026HouseRefer for Interim Study: MA VV 02/05/2026 HJ 3 P. 12

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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