HB 313 · 2026 · House · Judiciary Committee
Closed meetings to protect reputations
AI-generatedrelative to non-public sessions at public meetings where discussion in public would likely affect a person's reputation.
Allows a person with the right to attend a public meeting to require that the meeting remain open even when discussion about that person would likely adversely affect their reputation.AI-generated
Status
Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · January 7, 2026- ✓Introduced
- ✕House
- Senate
- Governor
- Law
Analysis
This bill allows a person who has the right to attend a public meeting to choose that the meeting remain open, even when discussion about the person in public would likely adversely affect the reputation of the person.
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
“Matters which, if discussed in public, would likely affect adversely the reputation of any person, other than a member of the public body itself, unless such person [requests an open meeting] has a right to attend the meeting, at which point that person shall be given the opportunity to request an open meeting.”
“This exemption shall extend to any application for assistance or tax abatement or waiver of a fee, fine, or other levy, if based on inability to pay or poverty of the applicant.”
Official record
gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source
Sponsors
- Rep. Ross BerryRChair· Election Law
Also: Rep. David LoveR
Public testimony
No one submitted online testimony on this bill. See the record
Votes
yeanay- Nov 12, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate17–0Overall100% yea
- Jan 7, 2026HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted
Hearings and debates
- Jan 22, 2025Public hearingHouse Judiciary4:43:40–4:46:463m 6slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
- Jan 30, 2025Public hearingHouse Judiciary1:46:13–1:47:361m 23slocated in the stream transcriptExecutive Session
- Mar 10, 2025Public hearingHouse Judiciary14:39–16:512m 12slocated in the stream transcriptExecutive Session; Retained in Committee
- Sep 10, 2025Public hearingHouse Judiciary44:40–48:073m 27slocated in the stream transcriptFull Committee Work Session
- Sep 30, 2025Public hearingHouse Judiciary3:28–5:031m 35slocated in the stream transcriptSubcommittee Work Session
- Nov 12, 2025Public hearingHouse Judiciary1:09:16–1:12:203m 4slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Subcommittee Work Session; Executive Session
- Jan 7, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamInexpedient to Legislate — adopted, voice vote
Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.
Legislative history
- Jan 8, 2025HouseIntroduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Judiciary HJ 2 P. 14
- Jan 22, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/22/2025 02:15 pm LOB 206-208
- Jan 30, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 01/30/2025 10:00 am LOB 206-208
- Mar 7, 2025House==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 03/07/2025 10:00 am LOB 206-208
- Mar 10, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/10/2025 01:00 pm LOB 206-208
- Mar 10, 2025HouseRetained in Committee
- Sep 10, 2025HouseFull Committee Work Session: 09/10/2025 10:00 am GP 230
- Sep 30, 2025HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 09/30/2025 11:00 am GP 228
- Nov 12, 2025HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 11/12/2025 09:50 am GP 230
- Nov 12, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 11/12/2025 10:00 am GP 230
- Nov 12, 2025House: Inexpedient to Legislate 11/12/2025 (Vote 17-0; CC) HC 51 P. 14
- Jan 7, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 75
Coverage
No reporting linked yet.
Documents (PDF)
Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.