Judiciary committee advances bill to curb anonymous public-data requests to schools, expands MDE inspector general powers

A Senate Judiciary Committee on April 4 adopted an author’s amendment to Senate File 2981 aimed at limiting anonymous public data requests to school districts and clarifying investigatory powers for the Minnesota Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General.

The bill, carried by Sen. Mark Swadzinski, would prohibit anonymous requests for public data from school districts and allow districts to require identification credentials set by the district. The author's amendment broadened those identification requirements to apply to other political entities as well, and the committee adopted the A2 amendment by voice vote.

The measure is framed by supporters as a response to a recent pattern of voluminous or potentially malicious requests that impose financial and staffing burdens on schools. "This shields school districts from superfluous…