Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
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SB 626 · 2026 · Senate · Judiciary Committee

Residency requirement for right-to-know requests

AI-generated

restricting right-to-know requests to persons domiciled or maintaining a permanent residence in New Hampshire and requiring proof of domicile or residency to file right-to-know requests.

Restricts the filing of right-to-know requests to persons domiciled or maintaining a permanent residence in New Hampshire and requires proof of domicile or residency.AI-generated

Status

Died on the table in the Senate · March 12, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕Senate
  3. House
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill restricts right-to-know requests to persons domiciled or maintaining a permanent residence in New Hampshire and requires proof of domicile or residency to file right-to-know requests.

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

““Citizen” means a natural person domiciled or who maintains a permanent place of residence in this state.”
Section 1
“Each public body or agency shall, upon request by a citizen with sufficient documentation to prove domicile or a permanent residence in this state, pursuant to RSA 654:12, I(c), for any governmental record reasonably described, make available for inspection and copying any such governmental record within its files when such records are immediately available for such release.”
Section 2
“News organizations that are located and operate in any state, country, or territory except New Hampshire shall be exempt from the requirements of this subparagraph.”
Section 2

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Bill GannonRPrimeChair· Judiciary
  • Sen. Daniel InnisRChair, Majority Policy Conference
  • Sen. Mark McConkeyRChair· Capital Budget
  • Sen. Howard PearlRChair· Executive Departments and Administration

Also: Sen. Tim McGoughR, Sen. Donovan FentonD, Sen. Tara ReardonD

Public testimony

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

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Mar 12, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1055s3–2
    Overall
    60% yea
  • Mar 12, 2026SenateVoice voteSen. Gannon Moved Laid on Tableadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 3, 2026Public hearingSenate Judiciary1:47:53–1:56:518m 58slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Mar 12, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1055s; Pending Motion Committee Amendment # 2026-1055s; Sen. Gannon Moved Laid on Table — adopted, voice vote

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026SenIntroduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 1
  2. Feb 3, 2026SenHearing: 02/03/2026, Room 100, SH, 01:20 pm; SC 4
  3. Mar 12, 2026SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1055s, 03/12/2026, Vote 3-2; SC 9
  4. Mar 12, 2026SenSen. Gannon Moved Laid on Table, MA, VV; 03/12/2026; SJ 6
  5. Mar 12, 2026SenPending Motion Committee Amendment # 2026-1055s; 03/12/2026; SJ 6

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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