CT HB05548

Expands residential address protections under FOIA to all public agency employees (not just those employed by the agency holding the records), except when residency is a condition of employment, effective October 1, 2026

Maintains existing address protections for specific categories including judges, police officers, corrections employees, prosecutors, public defenders, firefighters, DCF employees, and judicial branch employees

Adds protections for election officials (municipal clerks, registrars of voters, election officials) who may request nondisclosure of their residential addresses during a window from 90 days before to 90 days after an election

Creates new FOIA exemption for teaching and research records maintained by public higher education faculty and staff, including legal clinic records, while excluding institutional financial records from the exemption

Establishes civil penalties of $20 to $1,000 for willful and knowing violations of address disclosure prohibitions, with complaints handled by the Freedom of Information Commission