This bill establishes a new misdemeanor offense for elected officials who publicly disclose personal information about constituents on the Internet with the intent to harass. The bill adds a new section to RSA 643, specifically section 643:3, which defines "personal information" to include various identifiers such as names, addresses, contact information, and photographs, among others. It specifies that an elected official can be charged with a misdemeanor if they knowingly make this information available online with the intent to threaten, intimidate, or incite violence against the constituent or their immediate family. The penalties for such violations include fines of up to $500 or imprisonment for up to one year.
Additionally, the bill allows constituents to request the removal of their personal information from public records available on the Internet. If a request is made, the relevant government official must refrain from making that information publicly available, provided the request includes evidence of the individual's status as a constituent and an affirmation of an imminent threat to their safety. The bill also includes a provision that falsifying evidence in this context constitutes false swearing, punishable under existing law. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2027.