Bill > HB3140

This bill modifies West Virginia's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to strengthen protections for individuals making public records requests. The bill requires that the identity of FOIA requesters be kept confidential, with only limited exceptions such as requests made by government officials in an official capacity, cases where public interest outweighs privacy concerns, or when the requester explicitly consents to disclosure. The Secretary of State must maintain an electronic database of FOIA requests, but this database cannot include the names or personally identifiable information of requesters. The bill mandates that any existing online FOIA logs or databases be updated within 90 days to remove requester identities, and it establishes penalties for improper disclosure. If a requester's personal information is unlawfully revealed, they may seek injunctive relief and damages up to $5,000. The legislation aims to protect the privacy of individuals seeking public information while maintaining transparency in government record-keeping.