Committee delays Department of Public Health rule on access to restricted information after members raise public‑access concerns

The House Regulations, Administrative Procedures, Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity Committee on Thursday carried over a proposed Department of Public Health regulation that would set procedures for release of “restricted information” — records the statute treats as having a heightened terrorism risk.

The committee’s subcommittee recommended approval, but several members raised concerns at the full meeting about whether residents living near industrial sites could access relevant public‑safety information. Bentley White, a Department of Public Health representative, told the committee the proposal stems from passage of Act 60 of 2023 and is meant to mirror an existing rule formerly held by the Department of Environmental Services. "This proposed regulation is a result of the passage of Act 60 in 2023 that established 2, new state agencies," White said.

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