Substitute House Bill No. 5555 seeks to enhance the Address Confidentiality Program overseen by the Secretary of the State by broadening eligibility criteria to include individuals providing or promoting reproductive health care and gender-affirming health care services. The bill introduces new definitions for "gender-affirming health care services" and "reproductive health care services," and modifies the application process, allowing applicants to apply without the assistance of an application assistant, except for those applying under the new provisions. Additionally, it requires applicants to submit a statement under penalty of false statement regarding their involvement in these services and any threats or acts of violence they have faced in the past year. The effective date for these changes is set for October 1, 2026.

The bill also repeals outdated language concerning the termination of parental rights and emphasizes safety concerns for individuals seeking confidentiality. It removes previous restrictions that limited the program to victims of specific crimes, thereby expanding the pool of eligible applicants. The program provides participants with a substitute address for receiving mail and legal documents, ensuring their personal information remains confidential. The bill is anticipated to have no fiscal impact on the state or municipalities, as the Secretary of the State's office is equipped to handle the expected increase in applications.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 54-240, 54-240b, 54-240c, 54-240h
GAE Joint Favorable Substitute: 54-240, 54-240b, 54-240c
File No. 556: 54-240, 54-240b, 54-240c