Substitute House Bill No. 6850 seeks to amend the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by broadening the nondisclosure protections for the residential addresses of public agency employees. The bill repeals the existing Section 1-217 and introduces new provisions that expand the list of individuals whose residential addresses are protected from disclosure. This includes not only judges and law enforcement officers but also all public agency employees, provided that residency is not a condition of their employment. The bill clarifies that while residential addresses are protected, business addresses remain subject to disclosure.

Additionally, the bill establishes procedures for public agencies to follow when responding to records requests that may include the residential addresses of protected individuals. Agencies are required to redact these addresses if the individual has submitted a written request for nondisclosure and provided their business address. The bill also outlines the conditions under which nondisclosure is effective, particularly concerning election timelines, and specifies that public agencies will not face penalties for violations unless they are willful and knowing. The new provisions will take effect on October 1, 2025, and aim to enhance privacy protections for public agency employees without imposing any fiscal impact on the state or municipalities.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 1-217
GAE Joint Favorable: 1-217
File No. 146: 1-217