This bill amends existing law regarding right-to-know requests by restricting them to individuals who are either domiciled in or maintain a permanent residence in New Hampshire. It introduces a new definition of "Citizen" in RSA 91-A:1-a, specifying that a citizen is a natural person with a permanent residence in the state. Additionally, the bill mandates that individuals must provide proof of their domicile or residency when filing right-to-know requests.

The bill further modifies RSA 91-A:4, IV(a) to state that public bodies or agencies must respond to requests for governmental records only from citizens who can provide sufficient documentation of their residency. It also includes a provision exempting news organizations that operate outside of New Hampshire from these requirements. The legislation is set to take effect upon its passage and is projected to have a fiscal impact of less than $10,000 for each fiscal year from 2026 to 2029.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 91-A:1-a, 91-A:4
SB626 text: 91-A:1-a, 91-A:4