The General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1226 proposes an amendment to the Freedom of Information Act by establishing an exemption from disclosure for certain records related to teaching or research at public institutions of higher education. Specifically, the bill adds a new subdivision (29) to subsection (b) of section 1-210 of the general statutes, which will take effect on July 1, 2025. This new provision will protect records maintained by faculty or staff that arise from their teaching or research activities, including those from legal clinics or centers, while explicitly excluding financial records of the institution.

The intent of this legislation is to safeguard proprietary information that may be sensitive or confidential in nature, thereby encouraging academic freedom and innovation in higher education. The bill aims to balance the public's right to access information with the need to protect certain educational records from disclosure, ensuring that the integrity of teaching and research activities is maintained.