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Subcommittee preserves privacy exemption for disaster-recovery housing applicants
Summary
The Government Operations Subcommittee voted to report favorably a bill that would reenact a public-records exemption protecting property photographs and identifying information of applicants and participants in disaster-recovery housing programs; the bill faces automatic repeal Oct. 2 unless reenacted by the Legislature.
Representative Nix, presenting the bill, told the Government Operations Subcommittee that the measure "saves from repeal the public record exemption for private for property photographs and personal identifying information of an applicant for or a participant of a federal, state or local housing assistance program for the purpose of disaster recovery assistance for a presidentially declared disaster." The bill would reenact a public-records exemption scheduled to automatically repeal on Oct. 2 unless the Legislature reenacts it.
The bill’s sponsor said the exemption is intended to prevent misuse of photographs taken during disaster recovery inspections. Representative Valdez described personal experience with post-disaster theft and asked why the exemption matters; Nix said inspectors' photos "could be personal photography that could be in the house of people's families" and that thieves had used such information after Hurricane Ian. Representative Rosenwald cited the bill analysis, saying protected information could be used "by fraudulent contractors" and that the bill helps shield distressed property owners and tenants.
Committee members asked procedural and outreach questions; several members praised the presenter for meeting with colleagues and staff before the hearing. Representative Holcomb asked several lighthearted questions about evidence of visits to members’ offices; the exchange was procedural and not related to the substance of the bill.
There were no amendments and no public testimony. The subcommittee called the roll and the clerk reported PCB GOS 25-01 "reported favorably." The roll call in the transcript records affirmative votes from Chair Cheney, and Representatives Alvarez, Aristide, Campbell, Connerly, Gentry, Greco, Griffiths, Holcomb, Joseph, Nicks, Placencia, Rosenwald, Sapp, Stark, Valdez and Weinberger; The Sabi (Besavvy) was excused.
The measure is one of three Open Government Sunset Review Act items the subcommittee considered; being a reenactment of an exemption, it does not itself change the statutory scope but would continue the current confidential status for the listed records if the Legislature reenacts it.
The subcommittee forwarded the PCB with a favorable report; the bill will continue through the legislative process where its ultimate enactment and any modifications will be decided by the full Legislature.
