The bill under consideration outlines the specific authority and duties of registers of probate. It amends RSA 548 by adding a new section that allows registers of probate to provide information to parties about the probate process using materials from the probate division. It also stipulates that to qualify for election or to fill a vacancy as a register of probate, a candidate must be an active volunteer with the court probate navigator program and maintain this status throughout their term. However, this requirement is waived if the probate navigator program does not exist or is discontinued. Registers of probate are permitted to assist with process issues, such as helping with the court's electronic filing process, but are prohibited from giving legal advice or being considered judicial branch employees. They cannot charge for these services beyond what is authorized under RSA 548:17. If a register of probate ceases participation in the navigator program, county commissioners can fill the position with a qualified candidate, and the non-participating individual is disqualified from being a candidate in the next election, subject to the same conditions regarding the existence of the program.

The fiscal impact of the bill is indeterminate but not expected to be significant. The Judicial Branch will be responsible for preparing materials for registers of probate to distribute and for the costs associated with training and monitoring them as part of the probate navigator program. These costs are expected to be absorbed within the existing budget for the program, with the majority of expenses likely to occur in the first year of implementation (FY 2025). The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2025. There are no changes in state, county, or local revenue or appropriations, and the funding source for the bill is not specified in the provided text.