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HB199 • 2025

Courts; protection of personally identifiable information of judges and their spouses; modify provisions

Courts; protection of personally identifiable information of judges and their spouses; modify provisions

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Kelley, Trey
Last action
2025-05-14
Official status
House Date Signed by Governor
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary mentions repealing conflicting laws but does not list which specific old rules are being removed.

HB199: Protecting Judges' Personal Information

This law changes how the state protects personal information about judges and their spouses by removing a database requirement, creating a standard form for requests to remove data from public records, and requiring governments to honor those requests.

What This Bill Does

  • Removes the rule that requires the Administrative Office of the Courts to keep a list or database of protected people and information.
  • Creates one state-wide form that judges and their spouses can use to ask for personal details to be removed from public records.
  • Requires state and local governments to take out personally identifiable information from public records when they receive a valid request using the new form.
  • Sets up specific steps or procedures that must be followed when someone asks to have their private data redacted.
  • Updates definitions used in court rules regarding protected persons.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Judges and their spouses who want to keep personal information out of public records.
  • The Administrative Office of the Courts, which no longer must maintain a specific database for this purpose.
  • State and local government agencies that hold public records containing judge-related data.

Terms To Know

Personally identifiable information
Details like names or addresses that can be used to identify a specific person.
Redacted
Removed, blacked out, or hidden so it cannot be seen in public documents.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The official summary does not explain exactly what happens if a government agency refuses to remove the requested information.
  • It is unclear from this text whether judges must pay any fees to use the new state-wide form or submit their request.

Bill History

  1. 2025-05-14 Georgia General Assembly

    House Date Signed by Governor

Official Summary Text

Courts; protection of personally identifiable information of judges and their spouses; modify provisions