SB 261 · 2026 · Senate · Judiciary Committee
Recording police interrogations
AI-generatedrequiring that custodial interrogations be recorded, establishing a fund to make grants to state law enforcement agencies to purchase equipment to enable such recordings, and making an appropriation therefor.
Requires custodial interrogations to be recorded, establishes a fund for grants to state law enforcement agencies to purchase recording equipment, and appropriates $50,000 for that purpose.AI-generated
Status
Referred to interim study (Senate) · January 7, 2026- ✓Introduced
- ✕Senate
- House
- Governor
- Law
Analysis
This bill requires that custodial interrogations be recorded, establishes a fund to make grants to state law enforcement agencies to purchase equipment to enable such recordings, and appropriates $50,000 therefor.
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
“"Custodial interrogation" shall have the same meaning as established in case law by the New Hampshire supreme court.”
“Except as otherwise provided in RSA 594-A:4, a custodial interrogation at a place of detention, including the giving of any required warning, advice regarding the rights of the individual being questioned, and the waiver of any rights by the individual, shall be recorded electronically in its entirety.”
“If a custodial interrogation occurs in another state in compliance with that state's law or is conducted by a federal law enforcement agency in compliance with federal law, the interrogation shall not be recorded electronically unless the interrogation is conducted with intent to avoid the requirement of electronic recording in RSA 594-A:2.”
“Except as provided in RSA 594-A:3 and RSA 594-A:5, all statements made by a person during a custodial interrogation that are not electronically recorded shall be inadmissible as evidence against the person in any criminal or juvenile delinquency proceeding brought against the person.”
Official record
gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source
Sponsors
- Sen. Keith MurphyRDeputy President Pro Tempore
- Sen. Bill GannonRChair· Judiciary
- Rep. Bob LynnRChair· Judiciary
- Rep. Jason OsborneRMajority Leader
Also: Rep. Buzz ScherrD
Public testimony
No one submitted online testimony on this bill. See the record
Votes
yeanay- Mar 6, 2025SenateCommittee report: Rereferred to Committee4–0Overall100% yea
- Mar 6, 2025SenateVoice voteRereferred to Committeeadopted
- Jan 7, 2026SenateCommittee reportCommittee report: Referred to Interim Study5–0Overall100% yea
- Jan 7, 2026SenateVoice voteRefer to Interim Studyadopted
Hearings and debates
- Feb 18, 2025Public hearingSenate Judiciary1:33:04–1:38:345m 30slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
- Mar 6, 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
- Jan 9, 2025SenIntroduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 3
- Feb 18, 2025SenHearing: 02/18/2025, Room 100, SH, 01:30 pm; SC 10
- Mar 6, 2025Sen: Rereferred to Committee, 03/06/2025, Vote 4-0, CC SC 11
- Mar 6, 2025SenRereferred to Committee, MA, VV; 03/06/2025; SJ 6
- Jan 7, 2026SenCommittee Report: Referred to Interim Study, 01/07/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 46
- Jan 7, 2026SenRefer to Interim Study, MA, VV; 01/07/2026; SJ 1
Coverage
No reporting linked yet.
Documents (PDF)
Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.