Right-to-Know Laws
What is the Public’s Right to Know in New Hampshire?
The Right to Know in New Hampshire is a law that allows individuals to access public documents created, received, and owned by public bodies and agencies. The Right-to-Know Law applies to records held by “public bodies,” which generally includes, among other things, any “board or commission of any state agency or authority” and any local “legislative body, governing body, board, commission, committee, [or] agency.”
Additional resources from our partners at the New England First Amendment Coalition, Citizens Count, and NH Press Association.
Right-to-Know Legislation
New England First Amendment Coalition Legislation Tracker
New Hampshire Press Association Tracker
How to Follow a Bill and Engage with Lawmakers
Public Records
Right to Know Request Form Sample
Introduction to Public Records (video)
3 Requests 3 Stories (video)
Public Record Appeals (video)
How Newsrooms Fight Public Record Denials (video)
Beyond Public Records Law: Getting the Documents You Need (video)
Public Records Law (Update) (video)
Other Helpful Links
NH Attorney General Guide to Right to Know Law This is a very detailed guide to what is — and is not — a public record.
N.H. Constitution Part I, Article 8 Accountability of Magistrates and Officers; Public’s Right to Know.] All power residing originally in, and being derived from, the people, all the magistrates and officers of government are their substitutes and agents, and at all times accountable to them. Government, therefore, should be open, accessible, accountable and responsive. To that end, the public’s right of access to governmental proceedings and records shall not be unreasonably restricted.
N.H. Right to Know Law, RSA 91-A Preamble – Openness in the conduct of public business is essential to a democratic society. The purpose of this chapter is to ensure both the greatest possible public access to the actions, discussions and records of all public bodies, and their accountability to the people.
Don’t Be Overcharged for Records RSA 91-A:4 limits charges for electronic communications. You can be charged for the cost of copying records, but not for the time it takes to gather and redact them, though some town officials think otherwise. There are also limits on fees for electronic communications, including emails and text and chat messages. State law prohibits charges for the first 250 electronic communications, including the attachments and replies to those communications.
Citizens Count Advocacy Toolkit Do you have a cause you feel strongly about but aren’t sure how to effect change on the state level? These handy how-to guides can help everyday citizens take their advocacy to the next level.