Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Records topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
House concurs with Senate on public access database, sparking privacy debate
Summary
Lawmakers agreed to Senate amendments on HB249 to broaden access to court records via a public database; sponsors said it increases accessibility for citizens while critics argued the House's earlier language better protected privacy interests.
The House concurred with Senate amendments to HB249 on March 3, adopting language that restores broader public access to court records through an online database. Representative Handy, the House sponsor, framed the measure as a modernization of access: "This provides, in our modern time, the opportunity to access its information at times that are wouldn't be convenient to go to a courthouse."
Representative Wilcox spoke against the motion to concur, arguing the House's earlier compromise better balanced privacy and public interest and urging colleagues to reject the Senate changes: "I would encourage our body to reject the Senate amendments." Debate focused on whether the broader online access could harm privacy interests and where the line should be drawn between public records and sensitive information.
Handy said the courts would develop a limited‑access, limited‑fee database and that the media and law firms already have means to access these records today, arguing the bill would offer more convenient access to individuals without courthouse access. The motion to concur passed and the substitute for HB249 passed the House by a vote of 55–17 and will be returned to the Senate for the President's signature.
