NH RSA 91-A Right-to-Know

About NH RSA 91-A

The New Hampshire Right-to-Know Law (RSA 91-A) ensures public access to the actions, discussions, and records of public bodies, promoting accountability and transparency. Public meetings must be open and properly posted in advance, including details on time, location, and topics to be discussed, allowing public attendance. A "meeting" involves a quorum of a public body convening—whether in person or virtually—to discuss or act on public business, including work sessions. However, social gatherings, collective bargaining strategies, and legal consultations are not considered meetings under this law.

  • Click here to view the City's Administrative Procedure Policy
  • Click here to review the NH Attorney General's RTK Memorandum 

Request Information

The “Right-to-Know” form can be downloaded or submitted online. Physical copies are available for completion at the City Clerk’s Office, located in the James W. Foley Memorial Community Center, 150 Wakefield Street. State law does not require the submission of a written Right-to-Know request. However, completing a written request assures that both the City and the requestor have a clear copy of the request, and there is less ambiguity as to what is being requested. 

Email your completed request form to records.inquiry@rochesternh.gov, or mail it to:

Rochester City Hall
31 Wakefield Street
Rochester, NH 03867
ATTN: Public Information Assistant

The Office for Public Information serves as the one point of contact for the City’s Right-to-Know requests. Staff will work in coordination with the City Attorney and appropriate department(s) as needed to handle all requests received.  

Next Steps

Upon the receipt of a request, the Public Information Office will either make results available for inspection or photocopy if/when they are immediately available. If the record(s) are not immediately available due to location, utilization, or staff schedule, staff will provide a written acknowledgment of receipt of the request. This acknowledgment will include an estimate of the time reasonably necessary to determine whether the request shall be granted or denied. The written acknowledgment will be provided to the requestor within five (5) business days of the City’s receipt of the request. 

Applicable Fees

If a copy of a governmental record is requested in paper format or transferred to a USB drive, fees may apply. Please see the City's Administrative Procedure Policy for the applicable fee schedule.

Governmental Records Available for Request

The term "governmental records" means any information created, accepted, or obtained on behalf of, any public body, or a quorum of the majority thereof, or any public agency in furtherance of its official function. Without limiting the foregoing, the term "governmental records" includes any written communications 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."  (RSA 91-A:1-a, III)

Not all governmental records are covered under RSA 91-A. Some common exemptions are:

  • Records pertaining to internal personnel practices
  • Confidential, commercial, or financial information and any other records whose disclosure would be an invasion of privacy
  • Medical, welfare, library user and videotape sales or rental records,
  • Notes or materials made for personal use that do not have an official purpose, including notes and materials made prior to, during, or after a public proceeding,
  • Preliminary drafts, notes and memoranda, and other documents not in their final form and not disclosed, circulated, or available to a quorum of a public body,
  • written legal advice.

For a full list of exemptions, refer to RSA 91-A:5