[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6650431,"mediaKeyId","2508170-68bfcfdec95e452f77602cc58bff026a","parentId",2508170,"title","Banks, insurers and broadband providers urge committee to rely on new statewide privacy law; lawmakers hear House Bill 195","audioSeconds",1421,"startMs",7409000,"endMs",8830000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2508170-68bfcfdec95e452f77602cc58bff026a&start=7409&end=8830","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2508170-68bfcfdec95e452f77602cc58bff026a/thumbnail_7409000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6650431/New-Hampshire/Banks-insurers-and-broadband-providers-urge-committee-to-rely-on-new-statewide-privacy-law-lawmakers-hear-House-Bill-195","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6650431-176b8fe8bf9712d9807fe6be207a2807/orig.mp4?Expires=1777401248&Signature=TL8s8u5GKR322RHW-phuNq02sr1sJ9bibO7l-rLHAwf8ODqbyXvyEMwBxDe5UJZhMnq2fToBCtc6p0HXwXQ~-~zRLAwABHw-OAj~hjxBgs-4rFiI9N7se0GXYfH43bShJIcbgD82ML5abVjqeLG6P8FiNgsoec1FrAs8ifqUwv7Gz3cwmMPr7upSgMSAwB~RbaFcWCDhprkdVMrMYRwhbE-3Ff9p~x-jd0boRoqxO4rVh3rpIwIA5EBsA56A-AIhuu34Uc2pWerQklZ3oRWdAVZ7ikXx4JtHpv8Yy01GnByFkvNB6-BgsolzaJj1nsGqGeegWgm-d0ElaGltZ10eHw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Hampshire Legislature","date","2025-03-05T20:42:11.32Z","article","The House Judiciary Committee opened a hearing on House Bill 195, which would bar certain third-party providers (for example, telephone carriers, internet service providers, cable/streaming providers, banks, insurers and credit-card companies) from disclosing personal information about New Hampshire residents unless the resident gave affirmative, opt-in consent, with enumerated exceptions for law enforcement requests and emergencies.

Representative Lynn, sponsor of the bill, described H.B. 195 as narrower than the comprehensive consumer privacy law the Legislature enacted earlier (Senate Bill 255, now RSA 507-H). He said H.B. 195 focuses on disclosure by a specific set of covered entities and requires affirmative consent before disclosing personal information for purposes other than providing the requested service.

Business groups and regulated industries strongly urged caution. Neil Kirk (representing himself) and witnesses from State Farm (attorney Kirsten Schultz), the New Hampshire Bankers Association (Ryan Hale), TechNet (Chris Gilrein) and the Business & Industry Association (Rick Fabrizio) said the state law passed last year already creates a framework that industry is implementing; they warned H.B. 195 would create conflicting rules and compliance burdens. State Farm and several insurers said the bill lacks exemptions in RSA 507-H that insurers rely on, and that the bill\u0000s opt-in requirement for disclosure would be operationally costly.

TechNet and other technology-sector witnesses warned that an opt-in consent requirement for routine disclosures would produce \"consent fatigue\" and disrupt ordinary commerce; they urged the committee to allow the newer, comprehensive law to mature. Financial-sector witnesses said the bill could hamper fraud prevention and identity verification and noted banks already comply with multiple federal privacy and reporting laws.

Law enforcement raised narrower, practical concerns: Lieutenant Steve McCall of the New Hampshire State Police said the bill\u0000s notification timing and a 10-day production schedule for some disclosures could delay active investigations (for example, pings or location data in exigent circumstances). He asked the committee to make sure exemptions for exigent public-safety requests are explicit and workable for 9-1-1 operators and investigators.

The Department of Justice\u0000s data-privacy unit suggested the bill lacks an enforcement mechanism comparable to existing consumer-protection enforcement (RSA 358-A); the attorney representing the unit recommended either tying enforcement to the Consumer Protection Act or adding comparable injunctive and subpoena authority and increased civil penalties.

Supporters of the bill argued it would restore a privacy floor for categories of personal data and for the kinds of third-party providers they consider most sensitive. Neil Kirk and others emphasized the limited scope of H.B. 195 (disclosure only; not acquisition) and proposed narrow exceptions for law enforcement and emergency circumstances.

No final action was taken. Committee members heard substantial cross-testimony that H.B. 195 could unintentionally conflict with the comprehensive statutory regime adopted in 507-H and could create operational challenges for banks, insurers, and broadband and cable providers. Sponsors and opponents said they would pursue technical drafting changes if the bill advanced.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Judiciary (03/05/2025)","oneSentenceSummary","The House Judiciary Committee heard testimony on House Bill 195, which would require affirmative customer consent before certain third-party providers disclose personal information about New Hampshire residents, with limited exceptions for emergencies and law-enforcement requests.","taxTitle","Public Works and Highways, House of Representatives, Committees\t, Legislative, New Hampshire","taxId",17759,"location","New Hampshire","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6650436,"Committee hears bill to give New Hampshire Department of Education subpoena power in educator investigations",2023,397000,2420000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2508170-68bfcfdec95e452f77602cc58bff026a&start=397&end=2420","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2508170-68bfcfdec95e452f77602cc58bff026a/thumbnail_397000.jpg","/articles/6650436/New-Hampshire/Committee-hears-bill-to-give-New-Hampshire-Department-of-Education-subpoena-power-in-educator-investigations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6650436-b3cbc063b37952e4b5e7c53622de8eb8/orig.mp4?Expires=1777401248&Signature=ZR2GmucQJaOKGfGzhiGF60pdICthhrCEu4TnlbTmtJHAfqjIaIuDXZz16CCQz8Sk4udZhjR8LY4c6xaA-dfE9pYf4G1IPXypC1bpcHcpQP72nO~GI81XxuHsN~MNSVkZ-edANj6BwMi58Oh2eeT9ItmNjbTrc5B-GZS5E6B~Fb~aHkF7sImSWrn22AGjvZFGK065IUu6qz3Mbounv-dotiwCmmNiHggjMMIZjZKwMmrNVLa0c70WZbG51j6uTyYDyRMInUQjti5MeDGS1Ous7BnW9Pjk7pdGNmQcRFx0wZkgPiy8nyFNtWXTWKDYavb5CKMtT7hicDZ8aZqIaq8Xnw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Judiciary Committee members heard testimony on House Bill 520, a proposal to authorize the New Hampshire Department of Education to issue subpoenas in investigations and adjudicatory proceedings under the educator code of conduct. Representative Lynn introduced the bill, saying it would let the DOE compel witnesses and documents both during investigations and at formal hearings.

Supporters said subpoena authority would help the department obtain records and evidence when school districts or other holders will not provide them. Diana Fenton, an attorney with the Department of Education, told the committee the department sometimes must lead investigations in older cases and has run into barriers obtaining district reports, citing a Concord criminal case where the department could not secure a copy of a district investigation report except to view it at an attorney\u0000s office. \"It was very challenging to get a copy of that report,\" Fenton said, explaining the department needs a tool to ensure child-safety investigations are complete.

Opponents, including the New Hampshire Education Association and American Federation of Teachers-NH, argued the bill as drafted would give the department too broad a power during the investigative stage without reciprocal subpoena authority for respondents. Brian Hawkins of NEA New Hampshire told the committee the association remains opposed and urged the panel to first determine whether subpoena authority is necessary; he said witnesses previously testified the department generally receives the records it needs. Deborah Howes of the AFT said the bill is a \"solution in search of a problem\" and voiced concern that the hearings officer who would review motions to quash subpoenas works for the same agency issuing them.

Several committee members asked for clarifications on the bill\u0000s scope. Representative Bergeron asked about cost allocation language and whether subpoena costs could fall to respondents; Representative Birch pressed the sponsor on whether investigative subpoenas would be one-sided and how subpoena rights would function at the adjudicatory stage. Representative Lynn pointed to subsections that limit investigative subpoenas to the investigating party while providing that, in adjudicatory hearings, a hearings officer may issue subpoenas to both sides. Lynn and Attorney Fenton said the bill was narrowed from earlier drafts to apply to investigations related to the educator code of conduct, not to every DOE activity.

Witnesses from the School Boards Association raised concerns about student records and the mechanics of subpoenas directed at schools, asking for guardrails protecting student records, specifying who at the department could receive documents and how long records would be retained. NEA and AFT witnesses urged the committee to require symmetric subpoena authority for respondents and to preserve timelines for credential holders to prepare their responses.

The committee heard technical questions about how DOE investigatory work intersects with the Attorney General\u0000s Office. Fenton said the attorney general represents the department in court but typically defers to the agency\u0000s internal investigative and adjudicatory responsibility; she and Representative Lynn said asking the AG to obtain subpoenas for every agency would be administratively burdensome.

The hearing included repeated requests for drafting changes. Representative Birch said he would support an amendment requiring hearings officers to \"shall\" issue subpoenas under standards similar to those for investigative subpoenas, rather than leaving issuance discretionary. Lynn said he would accept language making issuance mandatory when certain materiality and good-faith standards were met.

No vote was taken; the bill remained before the committee at the close of the hearing. Supporters said the subpoena tool would be used sparingly and only in limited circumstances; opponents asked for more protections for credential holders, clearer limits on scope, and procedural safeguards for student privacy.","House Judiciary Committee members heard testimony on House Bill 520, a proposal to authorize the New Hampshire Department of Education to issue subpoenas in investigations and adjudicatory proceedings under the educator code of conduct.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6650422,"House Republicans file resolutions challenging Claremont school-funding decisions; Democrats and advocates urge funding action instead",2806,14558000,17364000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2508170-68bfcfdec95e452f77602cc58bff026a&start=14558&end=17364","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2508170-68bfcfdec95e452f77602cc58bff026a/thumbnail_14558000.jpg","/articles/6650422/New-Hampshire/House-Republicans-file-resolutions-challenging-Claremont-school-funding-decisions-Democrats-and-advocates-urge-funding-action-instead","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6650422-3e45e6b0f326b23d01cc9dce58d270af/orig.mp4?Expires=1777401248&Signature=HIdiVEWZsN-NMhLB56-tB3Ise8FhbjNXDLS~S3YA15WySW9xpnjmAKS2wkjDK~fqfQ4zXkKjo9DWOkwrRx6kk-bzRrAxr~cyB8u6F-DgHVNZ1kv6I5IOwAUyTN9FQKQ0PyGRdFhveOfbG0nfxgdwMBEmTKSZ9p~zpW1Tcdw6k-F-qy-JD7Gb2Ox7iJhX6n1MK5CYbO~zBxggl0eUt6CsDGP78tcOpth6goi3yXjpwamIT81amIdgdCiaE0CnlEAkNf5CXQiFCq3kZd9M~NbD~117A5YZ5F2Q4oApxEn9d4S2I-rTsOgZK0oWbKQ8ncHa4I1NjLwnPaNPteZD8z5mIQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Judiciary Committee members heard testimony on two resolutions that take a public stance about the state\u0000s judicial school-funding decisions and the separation of powers. House Concurrent Resolution 11 (sponsored by Representative Greg Hill) and House Concurrent Resolution 7 (sponsored by Representative Mike Belcher) both urge the Legislature to assert that the judiciary has exceeded its constitutional role in the Claremont and later funding cases.

Sponsors described HCR 11 as a statement that the courts have \"crossed the lines of the separation of powers\" by repeatedly directing legislative action on education funding since the 1993 Claremont decisions. Representative Hill told the committee the resolution is not a repeal of judicial review but instead would assert that courts may not direct the Legislature to pass specific policy or funding measures. Representative Belcher\u0000s HCR 7 would authorize a House investigation (potentially a special committee) to examine whether the trial judge\u0000s funding order amounts to an unlawful usurpation of legislative authority and whether impeachment proceedings might be appropriate.

Opponents said use of the resolutions at this moment is politically fraught and would distract from the policy task of addressing persistent funding disparities across New Hampshire. Zach Sheehan of the New Hampshire School Funding Fairness Project and several parents and local-budget officials said decades of underfunding and heavy local property-tax reliance led to the current litigation. Sheehan described the fiscal gap between the state\u0000s adequacy funding and actual spending and urged the Legislature to focus on policy solutions to relieve property-tax burdens on communities with high need.

Other witnesses supported the courts\u0000 role. Longtime practitioner Gregory Sorg, who is counsel for a group of legislators in the ConVal litigation, urged the House to assert its constitutional role and warned that continued judicial directives would limit legislative decision-making. Opponents argued that if the Legislature believes the court\u0000s interpretation is wrong, the proper channel is a constitutional amendment or different appropriations policy, not a resolution that could be read as an attempt to nullify judicial orders.

Testimony also included perspectives from municipal budget committee members and parents who described local budget debates, property-tax pressures, and community responses to court-driven remedies. Several witnesses said town-level budget votes showed voters\u0000 willingness to increase local spending in some districts, but advocates said statewide disparities in local tax capacity still justify state-level reforms.

No committee action was taken at the hearing. Lawmakers heard a wide range of views: sponsors urged legislative reassertion of constitutional lines, while many education advocates urged the Legislature to prioritize funding solutions to the problems that led to repeated court actions.","The House Judiciary Committee heard sharply divided testimony on two resolutions, HCR 11 and HCR 7, which would publicly challenge New Hampshire courts\u0000 school-funding rulings and call for legislative investigations into judicial directives.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6650426,"Lawmakers hear bill limiting state—s access to third-party personal data; sponsors say it complements private-sector disclosure controls",825,11115000,11940000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2508170-68bfcfdec95e452f77602cc58bff026a&start=11115&end=11940","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2508170-68bfcfdec95e452f77602cc58bff026a/thumbnail_11115000.jpg","/articles/6650426/New-Hampshire/Lawmakers-hear-bill-limiting-states-access-to-third-party-personal-data-sponsors-say-it-complements-private-sector-disclosure-controls","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6650426-5d099f98784e3c0faa25e7e28f8882c4/orig.mp4?Expires=1777401248&Signature=cg14JTyBjqd0MUCdjg3FgaqMG9zeMXQqwCvk13AXeY4sKxKqpEf7i9pVVy1HoC-ZaU0bD~kPbz8o7tKSB4ekxq1wL8lSPAzxoQBzrPIlxKlcD7Pz0ObBKLMterMV1h1wMNrfnRj8Aan0sBLhgDmXLs80SfTIawDN6mbxhrQxQba83u-Ptju4CjtT04tHTma~UxLmLzEwHtuYpmARQQBlY1DrR4ebnWgh6lZiU5eN9UyEpLdQp4Cc8sWefj2DSnr8Ke6~1dOsZgmdixa~AmpMijCxoaWasbkoHnhU1VL2yV-Pq4UUmuaKQGM5jq7R-0ZV1j8M9coQT3SBxdSVCfTgBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The committee also heard House Bill 522, which would limit when a New Hampshire governmental entity may acquire, collect, retain or use personal information about state residents from third-party providers of information and services. Representative Lynn introduced H.B. 522 as a companion to House Bill 195; while H.B. 195 addresses private-sector disclosure rules, H.B. 522 would specify when government may obtain the same categories of third-party personal data.

Representative Lynn and supporters said H.B. 522 is tailored with a broad set of exceptions to avoid impeding essential government functions. The draft would allow government access where required for regulatory, investigative, adjudicatory or administrative functions, for public-health and safety, for eligibility and benefits administration, for emergency responses, and where necessary for law-enforcement investigations or pursuant to warrants. The draft also contains a private cause of action for violations by governmental entities.

Neil Kirk, a resident who testified in favor of stronger limits on third-party access, argued the bill implements the intent of a recent state constitutional privacy amendment and would prevent routine government acquisition of consumer data that users provided to phone, internet and financial providers. He recommended an additional carve-out allowing providers to disclose data to a third-party cloud vendor when necessary to deliver the service the consumer requested; he said that clarification would address vendor relationships while preserving the statute\u0000s privacy core.

Municipal and agency witnesses urged careful drafting to avoid operational disruptions. Deanna Dennis, regulatory and legislative affairs director for the Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire, said community energy programs rely on utility-provided customer lists and asked the committee to remove a clause requiring provider disclosures only for named individuals; she proposed language that would preserve lawful data transfers required by state or federal law. Assistant Attorney General Warren Cormack (Consumer Protection & Antitrust) said the Department of Justice does not take a policy position but recommended adding law-enforcement and consumer-protection investigators explicitly to the list of covered agencies so routine subpoena-backed investigative activity is not unintentionally blocked.

Representative Lynn said the bill is meant as a compliment to H.B. 195 and to set limits on government acquisition of third-party data; he repeated that the sponsors built broad functional exceptions into the draft so routine governmental operations would continue. No action was taken by the committee at the hearing.","House Bill 522 would restrict state agencies from acquiring personal information about residents from third-party providers except for enumerated public functions and emergencies; sponsor said it mirrors House Bill 195\u0000s restrictions for government-held data while listing broad operational exceptions",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6650417,"Committee reviews bill to repeal \"legally liable relative\" requirement in local welfare law",285,19933000,20218000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2508170-68bfcfdec95e452f77602cc58bff026a&start=19933&end=20218","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2508170-68bfcfdec95e452f77602cc58bff026a/thumbnail_19933000.jpg","/articles/6650417/New-Hampshire/Committee-reviews-bill-to-repeal-legally-liable-relative-requirement-in-local-welfare-law","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6650417-abcdd6370d6a4e5ea224f720b49d1d30/orig.mp4?Expires=1777401248&Signature=WFH8f7nNzy~EKW7i6sgt1mpVvrB0ijHreiwJSzL9hajhN-ByuU0wLBcf29xIZ2N5xS0UEDtAHRgpYGeE408aqDKlqfhZA2PTyt2eUv2FE~FpimL4MGMMbcHzzg9HsRq9AGuf~gzCp7gWE0PobH8mSaBoHTNWQ03UwgInrRNNaC26ropQtbxgsOltuk1IXZcD11Ncnc-dBQSIhuNGFg~5dNT8-KM1rQRc2h2zDzbtE~Zp6DpQmAnxXheO9eCWrZYH-nWULguPOtOnPU3AdB-yEan9qDjJLubU4pi0tKHT22w-9oh4ntpstkvDvK~SA9ZT2S1AwWDTou~g9s0fK8JDhg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The committee heard House Bill 132, which would repeal a portion of New Hampshire\u0000s poor-relief/local-welfare statutes that identifies \"legally liable relatives\" (for example, a parent, adult child, spouse or step-relative) and authorizes municipalities to seek reimbursement from them or to compel attendance at court to establish liability.

Sponsor Representative Lehi said he introduced the bill after a Piermont resident described a case in which a select board sought help from a close relative under the statute; the sponsor said the provision is \"antiquated\" (the law dates to early 20th-century statutes and was last substantially revised in the 1980s) and can impose an unreasonable obligation on relatives who are estranged or lack the means to help.

Opponents, including the New Hampshire Local Welfare Administrators Association (represented by Todd Marsh) and the New Hampshire Municipal Association (Sarah Bert Cohen), told the panel the statute is used infrequently but remains an important tool for municipalities. Marsh, president of the local-welfare administrators association, said the provision is sometimes relied on for urgent needs such as emergency shelter, extended rental assistance or burial expenses: municipal welfare officers may contact close relatives and the prospect of reimbursement often prompts family members to assist voluntarily. Marsh and NHMA argued repeal would remove a non-coercive leverage point and could increase municipal costs for emergency aid.

New Hampshire Legal Assistance\u0000s Steve Tower said his 2021 survey of towns found no widespread use of court enforcement under the statute over a 10-year window; he said municipalities more often use the statute\u0000s existence in an outreach role, not to pursue incarceration or court-ordered repayment. Municipal witnesses agreed the practice is situational: many towns make case-by-case decisions and do not initiate court enforcement, in part because pursuing contempt or other civil enforcement is resource-intensive and politically fraught.

The committee did not take action. Sponsors and municipal associations agreed to continue a conversation about whether modernization, clearer guidance, or statutory amendments could preserve municipal flexibility while avoiding punitive outcomes for estranged relatives or those without ability to pay.","House Bill 132 would remove an antiquated statutory provision that allows towns to seek reimbursement and, in some cases, compel support from close relatives of a person seeking municipal welfare. Advocates for keeping the law argued towns sometimes rely on the provision\u0000s leverage to secure family assistance in emergency housing or burial cases;","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Banks, insurers and broadband providers urge committee to rely on new statewide privacy law; lawmakers hear House Bill 195

Committee hears bill to give New Hampshire Department of Education subpoena power in educator investigations

House Republicans file resolutions challenging Claremont school-funding decisions; Democrats and advocates urge funding action instead

Lawmakers hear bill limiting state—s access to third-party personal data; sponsors say it complements private-sector disclosure controls

Committee reviews bill to repeal "legally liable relative" requirement in local welfare law