Right-to-Know Law: Public Meetings & Governmental Records Workshop - You Must Login to Register

Registration Open: March 25, 2025 - May 2, 2025

This workshop will be held in a hybrid format (In person attendance option and a virtual attendance option)

In Person Location: NHMA Offices, 25 Triangle Park Drive, Concord, NH 03301.  In person attendance is limited to 60 people
Virtual Attendance via zoom

NHMA Member Registration Fees: $85.00 in person, $70.00 virtual
Non-member Registration Fees (state and school officials only)*: $170.00 in person, $140.00 virtual
*Non-member attendance is limited to government officials who are not members of NHMA and not eligible to be members (schools and state agencies). If space is limited, priority will be given to NHMA members. Non-member village districts, counties, regional planning commissions, or other municipal entities interested in attending NHMA workshops can contact info@nhmunicipal.org to learn about becoming a member. 

8:30 AM Registration and Continental Breakfast.  Lunch is on your own and ample time will be provided for attendees to get lunch.

Join Legal Services Counsel Stephen Buckley and Municipal Services Counsel Jonathan Cowal who will discuss the requirements for holding a proper public meeting, as well as the exceptions to the meeting requirement (the so-called "non-meeting").  The attorneys will also address managing virtual public access and allowing public body members to participate remotely when their physical attendance is not reasonably practical.  Consideration will also be directed at preparing meeting minutes and facilitating public comment through meeting rules of procedure. The attorneys will also address statutory changes regarding keeping an inventory of non-public session minutes, exemptions for attorney-client communications, deliberating in non-public session to discuss unsealing minutes, and limiting the nondisclosure of minutes related to the sale or acquisition of real or personal property. The attorneys will also cover the new statutory obligation to review previously sealed nonpublic meeting minutes under HB 321.

In the second half of this presentation, the attorneys will provide information on handling governmental record matters arising under the Right-to-Know Law. The attorneys will clarify the requirement of RSA 91-A:4 to make records available “on the regular business premises” of public bodies, and what that means when municipalities are asked to send records virtually.  They will cover what it means for records to be “immediately available”, record storage, electronic records, redaction, cost estimates, mandated access for certain records and appointments for review of records. This hybrid workshop will also address what records are exempt from disclosure, how to apply the privacy exemption to protect personal information contained within governmental records, and what it means to compile records. Guidance will also be provided on the retention of governmental records, what it means for a record to be legally deleted, and how claims under the Right-to-Know Law are enforced.

The attorneys will explain the newly created Right-to-Know Ombudsman which modifies the Right-to-Know Law to allow a complaint to be filed with the ombudsman rather than superior court, and review decisions by the Ombudsman on the ability of persons who are not residents of New Hampshire to use the Right-to-Know Law to obtain governmental records. Finally, the presenters will cover recent court cases and legislative changes that have altered the landscape of record production.

Attendees will receive an electronic copy of NHMA's newly update publication, New Hampshire's Right-to-Know Law 2025.  Additional materials such as the PowerPoint presentation will also be distributed electronically. No printouts of the materials or hard copy of the publication will be provided.

Pre-registration and payment is required.  Registration is available until 5:00 pm on May 2, 2025. Registrations after this time cannot be guaranteed.  You will be billed according to the pricing on the options you select at registration. If you wish to make changes, NHMA must be notified in writing at least 48 hours in advance. Refund of the full registration fee will be made if cancellation notification is received 48 hours in advance. Cancellation less than 48 hours in advance, including no-shows, will result in you being charged the full cost of the workshop.  

*Please be advised that photographs may be taken during the event for promotional and informational purposes. By attending in person, you consent to the use of your image in any such materials.

Questions? Please contact us at 603-230-3350 or registrations@nhmunicipal.org 

REGISTER HERE