HB 666-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
27Mar2025... 0332h
27Mar2025... 1307h
2025 SESSION
25-0492
06/09
HOUSE BILL 666-FN
SPONSORS: Rep. Mazur, Hills. 44; Rep. Alexander Jr., Hills. 29; Rep. Berry, Hills. 44; Rep. Giasson, Hills. 29; Rep. Reinfurt, Hills. 29; Rep. Seidel, Hills. 29; Sen. Murphy, Dist 16
COMMITTEE: Judiciary
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ANALYSIS
This bill adds restitution payment and penalties for violating the confidentiality of the library use records and expands it to include library cards and membership status.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
27Mar2025... 0332h
27Mar2025... 1307h 25-0492
06/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Statewide Library Development System; Library User Records; Confidentiality. Amend RSA 201-D:11, I and II to read as follows:
I. Library records which contain the names or other personal identifying information regarding the users of public or other than public libraries shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed except as provided in paragraph II. Such records include, but are not limited to, library, library cards, library membership status, information system, and archival records related to the circulation and use of library materials or services, including records of materials that have been viewed or stored in electronic form.
II. Records described in paragraph I may be disclosed to the extent necessary for the proper operation of such libraries and shall be disclosed upon request by, or consent of, the user or pursuant to subpoena, court order, or where otherwise required by statute. Nothing in this section shall exclude a school from notifying parents about educational materials being borrowed by or taught to their children.
2 New Paragraph; Library User Records; Confidentiality. Amend RSA 201-D:11 by inserting after paragraph III the following new paragraph:
IV. Any library or library staff member who knowingly or recklessly discloses an individual’s library card or membership status without a court order or explicit consent of the individual or where otherwise required by statute [in question] shall be in violation of this section and subject to a civil penalty of $1000, made payable from the violator to the aggrieved individual whose information was released without their consent or a court order. Furthermore, the violator shall issue an apology to the aggrieved individual. The apology shall be notarized and sent via certified mail to the aggrieved individual.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2026.
25-0492
1/13/25
HB 666-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Legislative Budget Assistant has determined that this legislation has a total fiscal impact of less than $10,000 in each of the fiscal years 2025 through 2028.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Natural and Cultural Resources