Cited by CNHT as the ‘sharpest tool in the box’, New Hampshire’s Right to Know Laws, under RSA 91-A, are being attacked.

“Even as two changes to state law designed to improve New Hampshire residents’ access to government records are just days away from being enforced, one 2013 legislative service request has the potential to create new restrictions.

One law passed earlier this year establishes new civil penalties that can be brought against public officials who are found to have violated the state’s Right-to-Know law. A second law points out that arrest records are public information in New Hampshire, and subject to public disclosure laws. It also specifies the minimum amount of information that police departments must provide to the public regarding each arrest. Another change, which says the actions of public library trustees and employees must be subject to public disclosure, has been in effect since July.

But an LSR, or legislative service request, put in by State Rep. Mary Beth Walz, D-Bow, about the definition of “meeting” under the state’s Right-to-Know law, already has some legal observers expressing concerns.”

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Right-to-Know revision raises red flags