Substitute House Bill No. 6850 seeks to amend the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by enhancing 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.

Furthermore, the bill establishes specific procedures for public agencies regarding requests for records that may contain the residential addresses of protected individuals. Agencies are required to redact these addresses if a written request for nondisclosure is submitted by the individual. It also introduces penalties for public agencies or officials who willfully violate these nondisclosure provisions, with civil penalties ranging from $20 to $1,000. The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2025, and includes a provision that prevents any private right of action against public agencies or officials under this section. Overall, the bill aims to enhance privacy protections for public agency employees while ensuring government transparency.

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