HB1587

I support this bill

Dear Chair and Members of the Committee, My name is Kim Lawrence, and I am a resident of New Hampshire. I am writing to oppose HB 1587-FN unless it is amended, because in its current form it creates an unfunded mandate and increases the risk of serious privacy violations while claiming to improve transparency. Let me be clear: I support transparency and accountability in policing. Body-worn camera footage can protect the public, improve trust, and protect officers from false accusations. I agree that recordings created during official law enforcement duties should not automatically be shielded from public view. However, HB 1587 does not build a workable system — it creates requirements without providing the resources to implement them responsibly. This bill requires agencies to respond to body camera footage requests within 5 business days, while also requiring complex, mandatory redactions involving minors, victims, private locations, and personal identifying information. That is not a minor administrative change. It is a major operational burden. The fiscal note confirms the reality: the Department of Safety anticipates needing new hires and significant ongoing expenditures, and municipalities warn this bill could cost $10,000 to $100,000+, depending on request volume. Yet HB 1587 provides no funding and no authorization for staffing. That is not accountability — it is setting agencies up to fail. Worse, rushed or under-resourced redaction creates real harm. If sensitive footage is accidentally released — a minor, a victim, an address, a private home interior — the harm cannot be undone. This bill risks turning transparency into trauma and litigation. New Hampshire can and should strengthen public access to records. But we must do it right. If the Legislature wants to make body-worn camera footage subject to RSA 91-A, then it must include: funding and staffing authorization, realistic response timelines, uniform statewide standards for redaction and release, and strong privacy safeguards. Without these guardrails, HB 1587 is not good government. It is an unfunded mandate with predictable consequences for local agencies and private citizens alike. For these reasons, I respectfully urge the Committee to vote Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL) on HB 1587-FN, or to retain it for necessary amendments. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Kim Lawrence Resident of New Hampshire

The public pays the salaries of law enforcement officers and therefore should be entitled to all body-cam footage.