CHAPTER 171

HB 218-FN - FINAL VERSION

20Mar2025... 0765h

05/01/2025 1711s

2025 SESSION

25-0110

09/11

HOUSE BILL 218-FN

AN ACT relative to providing victims of crime with a free police report of the investigation.

SPONSORS: Rep. J. MacDonald, Carr. 6; Rep. Crawford, Carr. 3; Rep. Maggiore, Rock. 23; Rep. Pauer, Hills. 36; Rep. Rung, Hills. 12; Sen. Abbas, Dist 22

COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill provides victims of crime with a right to request a free initial police report and, following the conclusion of the investigation or case, a free copy of the complete case file.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

20Mar2025... 0765h

05/01/2025 1711s

25-0110

09/11

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five

AN ACT relative to providing victims of crime with a free police report of the investigation.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

171:1 Rights of Crime Victims; Copy of Police Report. Amend RSA 21-M:8-k, II(i) to read as follows:

(i) [The right to be informed] After the initial contact between a victim and a law enforcement agency responsible for investigating a crime, the agency shall promptly inform the victim about available resources, financial assistance, and social services[.], and the right of a victim to request a copy of the law enforcement report and other documents related to the case, including the right to receive a free copy of the initial incident report. The release of any documents associated with the investigation shall be at the discretion of the law enforcement agency based on the status of the case.

171:2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

Approved: July 15, 2025

Effective Date: September 13, 2025