Bill > A03925

This bill requires comprehensive privacy protections for name change and sex designation change court records in New York State. Specifically, the bill mandates that court administrators, clerks, and records custodians develop policies to ensure that no identifying information about name or sex designation change actions is visible or retrievable in any state or local electronic database. Under the new provisions, court documents related to these types of actions will be completely inaccessible to the public, both in-person and online, with access limited only to the petitioner, the person whose name or sex designation is being changed, their attorney, or in cases of demonstrated good cause. The bill applies retroactively, requiring all existing name change and sex designation change records to be removed from public view within 90 days of the law's effective date. Additionally, if individuals discover that their previously filed records are still publicly accessible, they can request ex parte (without the other party being present) that such information be removed, regardless of whether they previously requested sealing. The goal of the legislation is to protect the privacy and potentially the safety of individuals undergoing name or sex designation changes by preventing unauthorized access to their personal information.

Justice

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A3925