Committee hears bill to add library cards to confidential records and allow restitution for breaches

Representative Lisa Mazer, Hillsborough District 44, introduced House Bill 666, which would add library cards and library membership status to the list of confidential library-user records and create a restitution/civil-penalty remedy for intentional disclosures. “Adding restitution as a remedy ensures that individuals harmed by such breaches have a clear avenue for relief,” Mazer said, arguing the change would deter weaponizing of library records through public‑records requests.

Members asked several clarifying questions. Representative Rombow asked whether the bill’s proposed penalty would apply to inadvertent disclosures, and Mazer said the drafting attorney designed the language to target intentional requests that weaponize right-to-know statutes. Representative Horgan asked how a plaintiff would establish a disclosure and identify the person responsible; Mazer cited a local example in which a right-to-know request revealed who had requested library records and the records then circulated on social media.

Representatives raised First Amendment concerns and whether the proposal would criminalize casual disclosures among private individuals. The sponsor said she would consider narrowing the definition of “discloses” to focus on public publication or intentional release rather than any private mention. Representative Alexander suggested dropping the penalty provision and leaving a clarification of confidentiality; Mazer said she would be amenable to changes, including replacing “restitution” with a narrower civil penalty and deleting an overly broad reference to disclosures by “members of the public.”

Committee members also discussed exceptions already in statute—court orders and investigative needs— and whether the bill would apply to school libraries (the sponsor said it would not). No committee vote was taken; the sponsor and members discussed potential amendments to narrow scope and penalty language.