Bill > HB520

This bill amends Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) 61.878, which governs open records and public access to government documents, specifically focusing on law enforcement records. The key change modifies the language around when law enforcement records can be kept confidential, replacing the word "would" with "could pose an articulable risk of" when describing potential harm to an agency or investigation. The bill expands the existing exemption by explicitly allowing law enforcement agencies to withhold records that could reveal the identity of informants or witnesses who are not already known to the public. This modification provides law enforcement agencies more discretion in protecting sensitive information that might compromise ongoing investigations or put informants and witnesses at risk. The bill aims to balance transparency in government records with the need to protect the safety of individuals involved in law enforcement activities and to maintain the integrity of investigative processes. The bill became law without the Governor's signature on March 27, 2025.

Government Affairs

https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/25RS/hb520.html