Senate Bill No. 289, introduced by Senator Abraham, aims to enhance the confidentiality of certain records related to public postsecondary education institutions in Louisiana. The bill enacts new exemptions to the Louisiana Public Records Law, specifically for applicants seeking executive-level positions, private donors, and proprietary research information. It stipulates that records related to applicants for high-impact positions, such as university presidents and deans, will remain confidential until a finalist is named, at which point the records of all applicants will become public. Additionally, the bill protects the identities of private donors unless they consent to disclosure, while still allowing for transparency regarding the amount and use of donations.

Furthermore, the bill provides confidentiality for records containing proprietary research, unpublished data, and information related to intellectual property, ensuring that disclosure does not disadvantage the institution or its partners. These exemptions will expire once the research is published, a patent is granted, or the institution determines that the information no longer requires confidentiality. The provisions of this bill are set to take effect on August 1, 2026.