The bill, Substitute House Bill No. 5410, introduced as File No. 451, aims to amend the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to exempt certain records from public disclosure. Specifically, the bill proposes two new exemptions: first, records related to investigations of alleged sexual harassment or discriminatory practices concerning public agency employees, including the names of individuals providing information about such allegations; and second, records contained within the registry of residents of the state with cognitive challenges, which is maintained by the Division of State Police within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection for the purpose of assisting in the recovery of missing or wandering persons.

The bill is set to become effective on October 1, 2024, and does not have any fiscal impact on the state or municipalities. The exempted records on alleged sexual harassment pertain to violations of laws prohibiting harassment based on sex or gender identity, while the exempted records on alleged discriminatory practices relate to violations of human rights laws. The bill also references related bills that expand FOIA disclosure exemptions in other contexts, such as law enforcement records, records arising from academic research, and home address disclosures for public agency employees. The Government Administration and Elections Committee has reported favorably on the bill with a unanimous vote.