New Hampshire HB 1236: relative to the use of body-worn cameras in county departments of corrections.

Bill Text

HB 1236-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

05/07/2026 1768s

2026 SESSION

 26-3039

 09/06

HOUSE BILL 1236-FN

AN ACT relative to the use of body-worn cameras in county departments of corrections.

SPONSORS: Rep. Scherr, Rock. 26

COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

 This bill authorizes a county department of corrections to utilize body-worn cameras in carrying out its functions both within and outside a correctional facility.

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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

05/07/2026 1768s 26-3039

 09/06

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT relative to the use of body-worn cameras in county departments of corrections.

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

1 New Paragraph; County Department of Corrections; Body-worn Cameras. Amend RSA 30-B:1 by inserting after paragraph III the following new paragraph: 

 IV. A county is authorized to utilize body-worn cameras pursuant to RSA 105-D in carrying out its functions both within and outside a correctional facility. 

 2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027. 

 LBA

 26-3039

 10/27/25

HB 1236-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT relative to recordings of custodial interrogations.

FISCAL IMPACT: 

 Estimated State Impact

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

 Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

 Revenue Fund(s)

None

 Expenditures*

$0

Indeterminable

 Funding Source(s)

General Fund, Highway Fund, and Various Agency Funds

 Appropriations*

$0

$0

$0

$0

 Funding Source(s)

None

 *Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill

 Estimated Political Subdivision Impact

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

 County Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

 County Expenditures

$0

Indeterminable

 Local Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

 Local Expenditures

$0

Indeterminable

METHODOLOGY:

This bill, effective January 1, 2027, requires custodial interrogations to be recorded and precludes admissibility of unrecorded custodial interrogations in criminal or juvenile matters, absent a reasonable justification. Based on information provided by the Department of Safety, Department of Corrections, New Hampshire Association of Counties, and New Hampshire Municipal Association, there may be costs at all levels (state, local, and county) for law enforcement agencies to adequately record all custodial interrogations. Potential costs include equipment, information technology, and training. Potential costs would vary by agency, depending on the policies they currently have in place.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Safety, Department of Corrections, New Hampshire Association of Counties, and New Hampshire Municipal Association