SB 289 establishes rules for how police body-worn camera footage can be used in criminal, juvenile, and administrative court cases. It allows law enforcement and prosecutors to copy footage for discovery but prohibits further sharing without a court order, requires destruction of copies after case resolution, and mandates law enforcement to preserve original recordings until a defendant completes all sentencing terms. The bill directly affects law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, defendants, and courts by standardizing access to body camera evidence while preventing unauthorized distribution. Violations of these rules are classified as misdemeanors. The law applies to all body-worn camera recordings used in qualifying legal proceedings.
HB 767 requires New Hampshire's Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to immediately verbally report suspected child abuse or neglect to local law enforcement upon receiving a complaint, and to submit a written report within 24 hours (instead of 48 hours under current law). This applies to cases involving sexual contact, intentional physical injury, or injuries by caregivers inconsistent with reasonable discipline. The bill also clarifies that trained DHHS staff and law enforcement may enter public places like schools to interview children without parental consent if there's suspicion of abuse. The policy directly affects DHHS, law enforcement agencies, and child welfare cases, with no funding provided for the required staffing changes.
SB 261 requires that all custodial interrogations (questioning of individuals in police custody) be electronically recorded with audio and/or video, with exceptions for equipment failure or specific requests by the person being questioned. The bill establishes a $50,000 fund to help state law enforcement agencies purchase recording equipment, prioritizing departments without any recording capability. It creates a presumption that unrecorded statements cannot be used as evidence in court, though this can be overcome with reasonable justification. The law applies to all state law enforcement agencies conducting interrogations at police stations, jails, or other detention facilities and would take effect 9 months after passage.
HB 102 requires New Hampshire county sheriffs to oversee all federal law enforcement actions within their counties. It mandates sheriffs to have a nonparticipating presence at all federal warrant services and arrests to uphold residents' rights and ensure minimal use of deadly force. Sheriffs must receive advance notice of federal actions and can deem unauthorized or improperly conducted actions (like those without notice or violating deadly force best practices) as unlawful, allowing them to terminate such actions. The bill directly affects county sheriffs, federal agencies operating in the state, and New Hampshire residents by establishing this oversight framework.
This bill establishes a statewide domestic violence program within the judicial branch to improve handling of civil domestic violence cases. It requires judges and court staff to complete specialized training on domestic violence dynamics, lethality assessment, and victim safety, and mandates law enforcement to use a standardized lethality assessment form in suspected cases. The bill also allows victims to submit safety affidavits when filing family court petitions, updates stalking laws to include installing electronic devices on a person as a stalking offense, and expands annulment eligibility for violent crimes while requiring courts to notify and seek input from victims before granting annulment. These changes directly affect domestic violence victims, law enforcement, courts, and individuals seeking annulment of criminal records.
SB 411 revises the procedure for creating inventories of property seized under search warrants in New Hampshire. It requires that the inventory be made in the presence of the person from whom property was taken (if present) or, if they are not present, in the presence of at least one neutral third-party witness. For electronic searches, officers may skip the witness requirement if they personally attest to the inventory's accuracy. This change applies to all law enforcement officers executing search warrants and takes effect January 1, 2027.
HB 1142 requires state, county, and local law enforcement officers participating in the federal 287(g) immigration enforcement program to identify themselves by name, badge number, and agency while operating under that agreement, and to remain unmasked during such operations. The bill directly affects officers in New Hampshire who assist with federal immigration enforcement through the 287(g) program. It establishes procedural requirements for transparency and accountability during these operations but does not change immigration enforcement policies or practices. The bill amends RSA 106-P and takes effect 60 days after enactment.
SB 410 authorizes New Hampshire law enforcement agencies to possess portions of human remains (such as tissue or bone) for training cadaver detection dogs, directly affecting law enforcement, funeral homes, and mortuaries. The bill requires written consent from next of kin or the deceased’s prior donation authorization, specifies the exact portions to be used, and mandates documentation retention. After training, all remains must be returned to a New Hampshire institution of higher education or a licensed medical waste disposal company. Agencies must also develop written policies covering consent, handling, storage, and final disposition, all to be submitted to the police standards council. The law takes effect 60 days after passage.
HB 1641 requires court clerks to send domestic violence, stalking, and civil restraining orders to prosecutors and probation officers within 24 hours when the person subject to the order is on bail or probation. This directly affects individuals under court supervision (bail or probation) who are named in such protection orders. The key mechanism mandates this rapid transmission to ensure law enforcement and probation officials are promptly notified. The bill would require 43 new full-time court positions for implementation, costing an estimated $1.76 million annually starting in 2027, though it does not provide funding for these positions.
HB 1633 requires health care providers, law enforcement, and other designated entities to provide sexual assault survivors with clear, written information about their existing rights regarding medical examinations and evidence preservation. The bill defines "sexual assault survivor" broadly to include individuals reporting non-penetrative assault, attempted rape (even without legal terminology), and deceased victims. It mandates the attorney general to post a simplified summary online detailing evidence collection timelines, preservation periods (up to 20 years or the statute of limitations), and survivors' right to request extended preservation of evidence kits. This ensures consistent, accessible information without creating new rights, focusing on transparency in how evidence is handled.
