This bill mandates that all family division proceedings be audio and video recorded, with the option to broadcast these proceedings live upon request from involved parties or their representatives. Specifically, it introduces a new section, RSA 490-D:16, which outlines the requirements for recording and broadcasting family division hearings. The recordings will not serve as the official transcript; only transcriptions prepared by authorized transcribers will hold that status. Additionally, the bill allows for live broadcasts of non-confidential proceedings, with the presiding judge having the authority to deny requests if it can be shown that broadcasting would likely cause irreparable harm to a party or witness.

The bill also stipulates that copies of the recordings must be made available to the public through the court clerk's office, ensuring that access to these recordings is not unreasonably restricted. The effective date for this act is set for January 1, 2026. However, it does not provide funding or authorize new positions to support the implementation of these requirements, which are estimated to incur significant costs for technology installation and staffing. The Judicial Branch has indicated that the financial implications of live-streaming across all family division courtrooms are challenging to estimate, but initial projections suggest expenditures could reach hundreds of thousands of dollars in the first few years.