HB 481-FN-A (2022): establishing the office of the right-to-know ombudsman and making an appropriation therefor.

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MLA: “HB 481-FN-A (2022): establishing the office of the right-to-know ombudsman and making an appropriation therefor.” Granite Record, https://graniterecord.org/bill/2022/hb481. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.
APA: Granite Record. (n.d.). HB 481-FN-A (2022): establishing the office of the right-to-know ombudsman and making an appropriation therefor. Retrieved 24 Oct. 2026, from https://graniterecord.org/bill/2022/hb481
Chicago: Granite Record. “HB 481-FN-A (2022): establishing the office of the right-to-know ombudsman and making an appropriation therefor.” Accessed 24 Oct. 2026. https://graniterecord.org/bill/2022/hb481.
BibTeX: @misc{bill-2022-hb481, title = {HB 481-FN-A (2022): establishing the office of the right-to-know ombudsman and making an appropriation therefor.}, howpublished = {Granite Record}, url = {https://graniterecord.org/bill/2022/hb481}, note = {Accessed 24 Oct. 2026} }

HB 481-FN-A (2022)

establishing the office of the right-to-know ombudsman and making an appropriation therefor.

Status: Signed into law
Term: 2021-2022
House committee: Judiciary
Senate committee: Judiciary
Subject: Right to Know
Chapter law: 250

The Story

It was introduced on January 6, 2021 and referred to the House Judiciary committee. The majority recommended that the House pass it, and the minority recommended that the House kill it, by a vote of 16–5. The report was placed on the regular calendar. On February 24, 2021 the House voted to pass it on a voice vote. On February 24, 2021 the bill was referred to the Finance committee. The committee held a work session on March 9, 2021. The committee met in executive session on March 29, 2021 to vote on its recommendation. The committee retained the bill, holding it for further work rather than reporting it out this year. The committee held work sessions on September 14, 2021 and September 28, 2021. The committee met in executive session on October 26, 2021 to vote on its recommendation. The committee voted unanimously, 21–0, to recommend that the House pass it with changes (amendment 2021-2126h). The committee's amendment (2021-2126h) was adopted on a voice vote on January 5, 2022, changing the text of the bill. On January 5, 2022 the House voted to pass it with changes on a voice vote. It crossed to the Senate on January 5, 2022 and was referred to the Senate Judiciary committee. The committee held a public hearing on March 8, 2022. The committee voted unanimously, 5–0, to recommend that the Senate pass it with changes (amendment 2022-1554s), and the report was placed on the consent calendar. The committee's amendment (2022-1554s) was adopted on a voice vote on April 21, 2022, changing the text of the bill. On April 21, 2022 the Senate voted to pass it with changes on a voice vote, then referred it on to the Senate Finance committee. The committee recommended that the Senate pass it. On May 5, 2022 the Senate voted to pass it on a voice vote and ordered it to a third reading. On May 12, 2022 the House adopted “House Concurs with Senate Amendment” on a voice vote, on a motion by Rep. Gordon. The bill was enrolled on May 26, 2022 — the final check of the text before it goes to the governor. The governor signed it on June 24, 2022, making it Chapter 250 of the session laws.

Hearings and Sessions

January 26, 2021, 1:00 PM: public hearing, House Judiciary
March 9, 2021, 9:00 AM: work session, House Finance
March 29, 2021, 9:00 AM: executive session, House Finance
September 14, 2021, 2:45 PM: work session, House Finance, LOB 212
September 28, 2021, 1:00 PM: work session, House Finance, LOB 212
October 26, 2021, 10:00 AM: executive session, House Finance, LOB 210-211
March 8, 2022, 1:15 PM: hearing, Senate Judiciary, SH 100

Votes

February 24, 2021, House: Ought to Pass — voice vote, passed
January 5, 2022, House: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2021-2126h — voice vote, passed
April 21, 2022, Senate: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2022-1554s — voice vote, passed
May 5, 2022, Senate: Ought to Pass — voice vote, passed
May 12, 2022, House: House Concurs with Senate Amendment — voice vote, passed

The Docket

January 6, 2021: Introduced (in recess of) 01/06/2021 and referred to Judiciary
January 26, 2021: Public Hearing: 01/26/2021 01:00 pm Members of the public may attend using the following link: To join the webinar: https://www.zoom.us/j/94597513398 / Executive session on pending legislation may be held throughout the day (time permitting) from the time the committee is initially convened
February 18, 2021: Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass (Vote 16-5; RC)
February 18, 2021: Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
February 24, 2021: Ought to Pass : MA VV 02/24/2021
February 24, 2021: Referred to Finance 02/24/2021
March 9, 2021: Division I Work Session: 03/09/2021 09:00 am Members of the public may attend using the following link: To join the webinar: https://www.zoom.us/j/94444579237
March 29, 2021: Executive Session: 03/29/2021 09:00 am Members of the public may attend using the following link: To join the webinar: https://www.zoom.us/j/92166004660
March 30, 2021: Retained in Committee
September 14, 2021: Division I Work Session: 09/14/2021 02:45 pm LOB 212
September 28, 2021: Division I Work Session: 09/28/2021 01:00 pm LOB 212
October 26, 2021: Executive Session: 10/26/2021 10:00 am LOB 210-211
October 28, 2021: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2021-2126h 10/28/2021 (Vote 21-0; )
January 5, 2022: Amendment #2021-2126h : AA VV 01/05/2022
January 5, 2022: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2021-2126h: MA VV 01/05/2022
January 5, 2022: Introduced 01/05/2022 and Referred to Judiciary
March 8, 2022: Hearing: 03/08/2022, Room 100, SH, 01:15 pm
April 21, 2022: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2022-1554s , 04/21/2022; Vote 5-0; CC
April 21, 2022: Committee Amendment #2022-1554s , AA, VV; 04/21/2022
April 21, 2022: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2022-1554s, MA, VV; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 04/21/2022
May 5, 2022: Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 05/05/2022
May 5, 2022: Ought to Pass : MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/05/2022
May 12, 2022: House Concurs with Senate Amendment (Rep. Gordon): MA VV 05/12/2022
May 26, 2022: Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/26/2022)
May 26, 2022: Enrolled (in recess of) 05/26/2022
June 24, 2022: Signed by Governor Sununu 06/24/2022; Chapter 250; eff. I. Sec4 eff 6/24/22 II. Sec 5 and 6 eff 7/1/25 III Rem eff 7/1/22

Laws It Would Change

Related Bills

HB 252 (2018): relative to pro se litigants under the right-to-know law.
SB 301-FN-LOCAL (2022): establishing the office of the right to know ombudsman and making an appropriation therefor.
HB 252 (2018): relative to pro se litigants under the right-to-know law.
SB 696-FN-A (2020): establishing the office of the right-to-know ombudsman and making an appropriation therefor.
SB 301-FN-LOCAL (2022): establishing the office of the right to know ombudsman and making an appropriation therefor.