This bill aims to enhance the confidentiality of driver's license information in New Hampshire by establishing strict restrictions and penalties for unauthorized handling of such data. It amends RSA 260:14, II by inserting new subparagraphs that prohibit the copying, retaining, or scanning of driver's licenses for non-governmental purposes, while allowing their display for identity verification in governmental contexts. Additionally, it specifies that corporate policies cannot permit the retention of personal information from government documents.

The bill also introduces significant penalties for violations, categorizing the unauthorized release or use of retained information as a misdemeanor for individuals and a felony for entities. Offenders may face fines of at least $100,000 payable to the affected individuals, along with a requirement for lifetime identity theft protection. In the event of a data breach involving illegally retained information, a fine of $100,000 per compromised individual will be imposed. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, and is expected to have indeterminable fiscal impacts on state and local expenditures due to potential changes in the judicial and correctional systems.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 260:14