Technology (Social Media)

This bill prohibits elected officials from publicly sharing a constituent's personal information online with the intent to harass, threaten, or incite violence. It defines "personal information" broadly to include addresses, phone numbers, social media profiles, photos, and online identifiers. Violators face misdemeanor penalties of up to $500 or one year in jail, and constituents can request removal of their information by providing evidence of an immediate safety threat. The law applies to state and local elected officials and takes effect January 1, 2027.

HB 1589, the Digital Choice Act, requires social media companies operating in New Hampshire to let users access and share their personal data across platforms. It directly affects New Hampshire residents who use social media services and the companies that provide them. The bill mandates that companies implement open technical standards allowing users to download their social interactions (like posts, connections, and public engagement) in a portable format and share this data with other platforms, while excluding private messages. Users gain the right to delete their data or obtain a copy they can easily transfer, with companies required to secure data and maintain interoperability through non-discriminatory terms. The law does not apply to email, cloud storage, or document services.

HB 1039 requires parenting plans in New Hampshire to include specific agreements about parents sharing a child's images on social media. This bill directly affects parents creating or modifying custody arrangements by mandating this new provision as a required element. The key mechanism adds a new section (f) to the parenting plan requirements, explicitly covering digital image sharing. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, and applies to all new or revised parenting plans after that date.