Bill > SB0246

This bill, effective July 1, 2026, mandates the redaction of personal identifying information in criminal actions to protect child victims and witnesses. Specifically, it requires that names of child victims and child witnesses, along with other information that could identify them, be replaced with anonymous designators like "Child Witness No. 1" or "Passenger" in all court documents. The bill prohibits the use of initials or familial relationships to identify these individuals and also requires the redaction of addresses, dates of birth, and phone numbers of all witnesses and victims. In cases where unredacted information is crucial for resolving a criminal action, it must be filed separately as a confidential document. The bill also amends existing law to clarify the definition of a "criminal action" for the purposes of these redaction requirements and raises the age for certain protections related to sex offense victims from sixteen to seventeen.