Live Free or Die Legal
This website is not an official source of law. This website does not provide legal advice. For official legal materials, verify against the relevant court, legislature, agency, or other official source. Legal information may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrectly processed. Consult a qualified attorney for advice about a specific legal matter.

This RSA section is an unofficial mirror, is not legal advice, and may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrectly processed.

RSA 91-A:1-a · Definitions

Title
VI: PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES
Chapter
91-A · ACCESS TO GOVERNMENTAL RECORDS AND MEETINGS
Status
current
Official source linked
Yes
Official source Copy section link

91-A:1-a Definitions. – In this chapter:

Copy link
I.

"Advisory committee" means any committee, council, commission, or other like body whose primary purpose is to consider an issue or issues designated by the appointing authority so as to provide such authority with advice or recommendations concerning the formulation of any public policy or legislation that may be promoted, modified, or opposed by such authority.

Copy link
II.

"Governmental proceedings" means the transaction of any functions affecting any or all citizens of the state by a public body.

Copy link
III.

"Governmental records" means any information created, accepted, or obtained by, or on behalf of, any public body, or a quorum or majority thereof, or any public agency in furtherance of its official function. Without limiting the foregoing, the term "governmental records" includes any written communication or other information, whether in paper, electronic, or other physical form, received by a quorum or majority of a public body in furtherance of its official function, whether at a meeting or outside a meeting of the body. The term "governmental records" shall also include the term "public records."

Copy link
IV.

"Information" means knowledge, opinions, facts, or data of any kind and in whatever physical form kept or maintained, including, but not limited to, written, aural, visual, electronic, or other physical form.

Copy link
V.

"Public agency" means any agency, authority, department, or office of the state or of any county, town, municipal corporation, school district, school administrative unit, chartered public school, or other political subdivision.

Copy link
VI.

"Public body" means any of the following:

Copy link
(a)

The general court including executive sessions of committees; and including any advisory committee established by the general court.

Copy link
(b)

The executive council and the governor with the executive council; including any advisory committee established by the governor by executive order or by the executive council.

Copy link
(c)

Any board or commission of any state agency or authority, including the board of trustees of the university system of New Hampshire and any committee, advisory or otherwise, established by such entities.

Copy link
(d)

Any legislative body, governing body, board, commission, committee, agency, or authority of any county, town, municipal corporation, school district, school administrative unit, chartered public school, or other political subdivision, or any committee, subcommittee, or subordinate body thereof, or advisory committee thereto.

Copy link
(e)

Any corporation that has as its sole member the state of New Hampshire, any county, town, municipal corporation, school district, school administrative unit, village district, or other political subdivision, and that is determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be a tax exempt organization pursuant to section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Source. 1977, 540:2. 1986, 83:2. 1989, 274:1. 1995, 260:4. 2001, 223:1. 2008, 278:3, eff. July 1, 2008 at 12:01 a.m.; 303:3, eff. July 1, 2008; 303:8, eff. Sept. 5, 2008 at 12:01 a.m.; 354:1, eff. Sept. 5, 2008.

Copy link

Source note

Source. 1977, 540:2. 1986, 83:2. 1989, 274:1. 1995, 260:4. 2001, 223:1. 2008, 278:3, eff. July 1, 2008 at 12:01 a.m.; 303:3, eff. July 1, 2008; 303:8, eff. Sept. 5, 2008 at 12:01 a.m.; 354:1, eff. Sept. 5, 2008.

Source history

  • 1977, 540:2
  • 1986, 83:2
  • 1989, 274:1
  • 1995, 260:4
  • 2001, 223:1
  • 2008, 278:3, eff. July 1, 2008 at 12:01 a.m.; 303:3, eff. July 1, 2008; 303:8, eff. Sept. 5, 2008 at 12:01 a.m.; 354:1, eff. Sept. 5, 2008

Related materials

Bill relationships

  • 2026 HB1034 reference

    e weapon that has been authorized, the purpose and scope of the authorization, and the time period for which the authorization applies. Such authorization shall not be subject to RSA 91-A. (c) Any law enforcement officer, when on or off duty or serving as a school resource officer. 159:19-c Prohibition of Hiring Armed Guards. All public schools shall be prohibited from employing persons whose sole p

  • 2026 HB1034-FN reference

    e weapon that has been authorized, the purpose and scope of the authorization, and the time period for which the authorization applies. Such authorization shall not be subject to RSA 91-A. (c) Any law enforcement officer, when on or off duty or serving as a school resource officer. 159:19-c Prohibition of Hiring Armed Guards. All public schools shall be prohibited from employing persons whose sole p

  • 2026 HB1184 reference

    eriod, the governing body shall approve the NTO by at least a majority vote taken by roll call vote at a duly noticed public meeting, or at a non-public session if permitted under RSA 91-A and requested by the individual subject to the NTO. (b) Any NTO issued or approved under this section shall include: (1) The date of issuance; (2) The specific public property to which the order applies; (3) A

  • 2026 HB1184-FN reference

    eriod, the governing body shall approve the NTO by at least a majority vote taken by roll call vote at a duly noticed public meeting, or at a non-public session if permitted under RSA 91-A and requested by the individual subject to the NTO. (b) Any NTO issued or approved under this section shall include: (1) The date of issuance; (2) The specific public property to which the order applies; (3) A

  • 2026 HB1189 reference

    . II. The committee shall hold hearings as required by this chapter and such additional hearings as it deems necessary and appropriate and, in addition to the requirements under RSA 91-A, ensure adequate and timely public notice of no less than 7 calendar days. III. The committee may delegate to the administrator or such state agency or official as it deems appropriate the authority to specify the use

  • 2026 HB1189-FN reference

    . II. The committee shall hold hearings as required by this chapter and such additional hearings as it deems necessary and appropriate and, in addition to the requirements under RSA 91-A, ensure adequate and timely public notice of no less than 7 calendar days. III. The committee may delegate to the administrator or such state agency or official as it deems appropriate the authority to specify the use

  • 2026 HB1197 reference · effective 2027-01-01

    estic jurisdictions, or is otherwise obtained by the commissioner in an investigation pursuant to this section shall be confidential by law and privileged, shall not be subject to RSA 91-A, shall not be subject to subpoena, and shall not be subject to discovery or admissible in evidence in any private civil action. Neither the commissioner nor any person who received documents, materials, or other inform

  • 2026 HB1197-FN reference · effective 2027-01-01

    estic jurisdictions, or is otherwise obtained by the commissioner in an investigation pursuant to this section shall be confidential by law and privileged, shall not be subject to RSA 91-A, shall not be subject to subpoena, and shall not be subject to discovery or admissible in evidence in any private civil action. Neither the commissioner nor any person who received documents, materials, or other inform

  • 2026 HB1212 reference

    ic standards presented to the commission by the New Hampshire department of education. All meetings and reports of the commission shall be available to the public as specified in RSA 91-A. (5) The commission shall determine the work schedule and organizational plan to complete the review process within the specified timeline. This may include additional work sessions with various groups of New Hampshi

  • 2026 HB1261 reference · effective 2027-01-01

    , that the proposed rule does not violate the New Hampshire constitution, part I, article 28-a; and[.] (k) If the agency provides for a virtual or hybrid hearing consistent with RSA 91-A and RSA 541-A:11, I(d), the necessary information for accessing the [meeting] hearing electronically, and a mechanism for the public to alert the agency during the hearing if there are problems with access. II. The di

  • 2026 HB1268 reference · effective 2027-01-01

    section shall be confidential and protected from disclosure under the commissioner's examination authority and shall not be considered a public record subject to disclosure under RSA 91-A. Based on this reporting, the commissioner shall make public aggregated data on the overall amount of rebates collected on behalf of covered persons in the state, but shall not release data that identifies a specific h

  • 2026 HB1284 add

    173-B. The name, domicile address, and mailing address, if different, of such a voter shall be maintained on a separate list of voters, which shall be nonpublic and not subject to RSA 91-A. If it is necessary to establish such a nonpublic list, the public checklist shall be marked at the end with a notation of the number of voters whose names are maintained on the nonpublic list. 2 Effective Date. This

Opinions and discipline decisions mentioning this RSA