HB0576 IL passed

GOVERNMENT-TECH

privacy

Plain-English summary

1. **ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY:** This bill protects the personal information of public officials by prohibiting its public disclosure and requires government agencies and individuals to comply with requests to keep that information private. 2. **KEY REQUIREMENTS:** - Do not publicly post or display a public official's personal information if they have requested you not to do so in writing. - Remove any publicly available content containing a public official's personal information within 5 business days of receiving such a request. - Ensure compliance with the redaction of home addresses for public officials in any related documentation. 3. **DEADLINES:** - The bill is effective immediately, meaning compliance is required as soon as possible. - Remove personal information within 5 business days of receiving a written request. 4. **PENALTIES:** - If you violate the law, you may be required to pay the public official’s costs and attorney's fees if they seek legal action. - Knowingly posting a public official's personal information that poses a threat can lead to a Class 3 felony charge. 5. **SMB IMPACT:** Small businesses must be vigilant about handling public officials' personal information to avoid legal repercussions, which may require updating policies on data management and public communications. Compliance with these requirements can help protect both the business and public officials from potential harm.

Source description

Creates the Public Official Safety and Privacy Act. Prohibits governmental agencies from displaying or otherwise publicly posting or displaying publicly available content that includes a public official's personal information when the governmental agency has received a written request from the public official that it refrain from disclosing the public official's personal information. Requires governmental agencies to remove publicly available content within 5 business days. Prohibits persons, businesses, and associations from publicly posting or otherwise displaying a public official's personal information online when the public official has made a written request that the person, business, or association refrain from disclosing that information. Permits public officials to seek declaratory or injunctive relief for violations of the Act. In the event of a violation by a person, business, or association, requires the person, business, or association to pay the public official's costs and attorney's fees if a court grants injunctive or declaratory relief. Makes knowingly posting a public official's personal information a Class 3 felony, if the person knows or reasonably should know that publicly posting the information poses an immediate threat to the public official's health and safety or that of a member of the public official's immediate family and if posting that information is the proximate cause of death or bodily injury. Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Exempts the personal information of public officials from disclosure. Amends the Election Code. Specifies that a provision that limits expenditures by a political committee for debts or for the payment of any expenses relating to a personal residence does not apply to expenses related to: (i) a public official's or candidate's personal security services or security enhancements to a public official's or candidate's primary residence; or (ii) cybersecurity measures or tools used to protect and secure a public official's or candidate's devices, Internet networks, or other technology. Requires the State Board of Elections to redact the home addresses of all current and past officers of political committees upon the written request of the supported candidate or the current chair of the political committee. Requires the State Board of Elections to redact a public official's home address information upon request. Provides that, upon expiration of the period for filing an objection to a public official's certificate of nomination or nomination papers, a public official who is a candidate may file a written request with the State Board of Elections, election authority, or local election official with whom the certificate of nomination or nomination papers are required to be filed for redaction of the public official's home address information from the public official's certificate of nomination or nomination papers. Specifies that, after receipt of the public official's written request, the State Board of Elections, election authority, or local election official with whom the certificate of nomination or nomination papers are required to be filed shall redact or cause redaction of the public official's home address from the public official's certificate of nomination or nomination papers within 5 business days. Amends the Illinois Identification Card Act. Permits public officials to have their work addresses listed on their identification card (rather than their home or mailing address). Amends the Vehicle Code. Permits public officials to provide their work address in their vehicle registration application rather than their home or mailing address. Effective immediately.


Not legal advice. Summaries are generated by AI from publicly available bill text and may contain errors or omissions. Always consult counsel before making compliance decisions.