This bill introduces a new chapter, Chapter 594-A, to the existing law regarding custodial interrogations, mandating that all such interrogations be electronically recorded in their entirety. The bill stipulates that any statements made during unrecorded custodial interrogations will be inadmissible as evidence in criminal or juvenile delinquency proceedings, unless a reasonable justification is provided by law enforcement. This justification must include a summary and documentation of the circumstances surrounding the lack of recording, allowing for the possibility of admitting unrecorded statements if deemed otherwise admissible under applicable rules of evidence.

The effective date for this legislation is set for January 1, 2027. The bill is expected to incur indeterminable costs for state, local, and county law enforcement agencies, as they will need to invest in equipment, information technology, and training to comply with the new recording requirements. The fiscal impact on revenue is projected to be zero, but expenditures may vary based on the current policies of each agency regarding custodial interrogations.