This bill amends the informed consent law to extend its application from solely motor vehicles to include searches of houses and other property. Specifically, it modifies the language in RSA 595-A:10, replacing references to "motor vehicles" with "houses and other property." The bill mandates that law enforcement officers must inform individuals of their right to refuse consent for a search and clarifies that exercising this right cannot be used against them in court or as grounds for further detention. Additionally, if a person refuses consent, officers are required to cease questioning unless significant time has passed or new circumstances arise.

The bill also introduces new documentation requirements for consent to search, stipulating that consent must be recorded either through a signed form or a video recording, which must be retained until any related criminal charges are resolved. Furthermore, it establishes that any evidence obtained in violation of these provisions will be inadmissible in court unless deemed otherwise admissible under specific exceptions. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, and is projected to have a fiscal impact of less than $10,000 annually from 2025 to 2028.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 595-A:10