Committee approves bill to limit online access to some officials’ personal data on assessor sites, amid press concerns
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Summary
Representative Chastain's HB339 would add judges, prosecutors and law‑enforcement officers to a list of "protected individuals" whose personal data is shielded on parish assessor websites; the committee adopted an amendment and reported the bill favorable as amended after discussion about constitutionality and press access.
Representative Chastain (author) told the committee HB339 would expand protections for certain categories of individuals so that personal information on parish assessor websites would be masked or made harder to access. The sponsor cited a local incident in which an investigator received a threatening text after being identified via public records and said the change is intended to protect safety.
The committee considered amendment set 2,197, which included technical edits and an amendment adding current or retired administrative law judges and law‑enforcement officers to the protected list. Supporters including police and the Fraternal Order of Police urged passage for safety reasons. Steven Procopio and Mr. David (director of the press association) warned of potential constitutional problems and concerns about press access and long time limits for removal of records; they urged working with press representatives and clerks to find a workable approach.
Committee members discussed whether protections would be automatic or require a request; the author and others said protections would be implemented and that assessors would follow guidance to remove easy online access on their sites, though public records requests would remain an avenue for the press. After discussion and with no objection, the committee adopted the amendment set and reported HB339 favorable as amended.
