Bill > HF4092

This bill, effective August 1, 2026, expands the existing crime of disseminating personal information to apply to all individuals, not just law enforcement officials, and creates a new civil right of action for individuals whose personal information is knowingly and without consent made publicly available, including online, if its release poses an imminent and serious threat to their safety or the safety of their family or household members, and the disseminator knew or should have known of this threat. This new civil action allows victims to sue for actual damages, including mental anguish, a civil penalty of up to $10,000, and attorney fees, and also permits courts to grant other necessary equitable relief. The bill clarifies that "personal information" includes details like home phone numbers, personal cell numbers, personal email addresses, and information about an individual's minor children, and that "family or household member" has the same meaning as in other state laws. While expanding protections, the bill includes exceptions for lawful criminal investigations, good faith reporting of unlawful conduct, matters of public interest serving a lawful public purpose, legal proceedings, and information authorized or required by law, and explicitly states it does not alter protections under federal law (47 U.S.C. § 230) regarding online platforms. The bill also allows for confidential filings and tolling of the statute of limitations until the dissemination is discovered.