HB1537

House · 2026 sessionRepublicanSigned into law

Cameras for school bus violators

Allows high-resolution video recording devices to be affixed to school bus stop bars to identify vehicles that violate school bus stop-light laws.

relative to the use of high resolution cameras to identify school bus stop light violators.

Transportation and HighwaysPoliceEducation - General

Status

Signed into law · June 24, 2026

✓Introduced
✓House
✓Senate
✓Governor
✓Law

Division of testimony

14 submissions

Support 6Oppose 7Neutral 1

Margaret KonzeSupportPembroke, NHfor MyselfJan 30, 2026

On the stop bar is perfect. That way it’s only recording when it needs to and nobody will lose their license based on some random “other witness”.

Daniel RichardsonOpposeNashua, NHfor MyselfJan 30, 2026

This bills intent is unenforceable. An IDENTIFIED driver can be given a ticket and penalized. An UNIDENTIFIED driver cannot be penalized. And you cannot arrest a car either.

Amanda EspositoSupportWebster, NHfor MyselfJan 30, 2026

Safety takes priority in my house and in public. As a parent to my two young children who are not even in grade school, it is my job to protect them the best that I can. It is unquestionable admit the reports being made about harm, violence and death that ICE had caused. It is in clear evident that proper training isn't given and they I have more trust in NH police officers than I do with individuals working for ICE. As a human services worker myself, I am well aware in how to respond in dangerous situations and had years of training along with mental health education background. The way that ICE is responding isn't appropriate and is creating fear among the people across the world. As a citizen, we shouldn't be living in fear and our children certainly should have to live in fear either. This is not protecting our citizens, it is destorying our trust even more than it has ever done. Please take my plea in considering how valuable it is to put safety first. Protect our state, protect our country. If this is out of our control, I would like to know the best method to protect my family. If any interactions with ICE, I would at least like for the NH PD to respond and witness any sort of interaction.

Kelly ButlerNeutralGilsum, NHfor MyselfJan 30, 2026

I would approve use of dashcams or other in cabin devices, but putting recording devices outside the bus that read and identify drivers faces seems like it would create a roaming database for bad actors or government / state officials to use for nefarious purposes. I do like the requirement of having unneeded video erased after 7 days though.

tom lutherOpposeclaremont, NHfor MyselfJan 30, 2026

Greetings from Sullivan County No. The surveillance state is bad enough. Folks are already furious at schools for bankrupting the state. Imagine adding a revenue stream based on bad bus driving and spyware. This can go badly wrong a million ways. NO>

Teresa BrooksOpposeManchester, NHfor MyselfJan 30, 2026

I am respectfully requesting that you oppose bill HB1537, for the following reasons: - This bill introduces mass surveillance under the guise of public safety and it further to erodes the original intent of RSA 236:130, which was to prohibit highway surveillance. - The bill explicitly authorizes cameras “with enough clarity to identify a person’s face.” That is not incidental capture, it is intentional biometric identification of the general public without a warrant, suspicion, or judicial oversight. New Hampshire has historically rejected biometric surveillance precisely because of its chilling effects on free movement and association. - While framed as targeting “egregious violations,” the bill: (1) Records everyone who passes a stopped bus, not just violators; (2) Captures passengers, pedestrians, and nearby residents; (3) Allows retention based solely on a prosecutor’s future discretion.

James GardnerOpposeKeene, NHfor MyselfJan 30, 2026

This bill is in direct violation of Article 2-b of the New Hampshire constitution, which states: [Art.] 2-b. [Right of Privacy.] An individual's right to live free from governmental intrusion in private or personal information is natural, essential, and inherent.