New Hampshire HB 74: defining the term citizen for the purposes of the right to know law and including preliminary drafts circulated to a quorum of a majority of a public body as disclosable documents.

Bill Text

HB 74 - AS INTRODUCED

2025 SESSION

 25-0082

 11/06

HOUSE BILL 74

AN ACT defining the term citizen for the purposes of the right to know law and including preliminary drafts circulated to a quorum of a majority of a public body as disclosable documents.

SPONSORS: Rep. Edwards, Rock. 31; Rep. Lynn, Rock. 17

COMMITTEE: Judiciary

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ANALYSIS

 This bill defines the term citizen as a citizen of New Hampshire, includes the press in the definition of citizen, and provides for disclosure of preliminary drafts circulated to a quorum or majority of a public body.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

 Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 25-0082

 11/06

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five

AN ACT defining the term citizen for the purposes of the right to know law and including preliminary drafts circulated to a quorum of a majority of a public body as disclosable documents.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 1 Findings and Purpose. The general court finds that free speech and liberty of the press are essential to the security of freedom in a state and therefore organizations and individuals acting primarily in the role of the press shall be considered citizens under the provisions of this chapter. 

 2 New Paragraph; Definition Of Citizen. Amend RSA 91-A:1-a by inserting after paragraph I the following new paragraph:

 I-a. “Citizen” means any person having a legal status in and relation to New Hampshire by virtue of domicile or any press acting on informing NH citizens, regardless of domicile. 

 3 Preliminary Draft Disclosure. Amend RSA 91-A:4, II to read as follows:

 II. After the completion of a meeting of a public body, every citizen, during the regular or business hours of such public body, and on the regular business premises of such public body, has the right to inspect all notes, preliminary drafts circulated to a quorum or a majority of the public body, materials, tapes, or other sources used for compiling the minutes of such meetings, and to make memoranda or abstracts or to copy such notes, materials, tapes, or sources inspected, except as otherwise prohibited by statute or RSA 91-A:5.

 4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.