After much back and forth, it appears that interested parties have come to an agreement over the disclosure of public employees’ personal information.

Since early last year, the news media and public employee unions have been at odds over how to handle the disclosure of sensitive personal information. On Thursday, February 6, the parties came to agreement on an amended HB 1888, sponsored by Rep. Zack Hudgins (D–Tukwila).

The amended bill impacting public employees follows current practices for disclosing personal information of law enforcement to the news media. Moving forward, news media will have access to birth dates and employee photographs through public records requests. Private citizens or other organizations will only have access to an employee’s birthday, not the month or year.

In addition, the bill requires that:

• By December 1, 2025, the Public Records Exemptions Accountability Committee must submit a recommendation on whether the allowed exemptions under this bill should be allowed to continue.
• The Office of Financial Management develop and maintain an employee verification system to authenticate the identities of public agency employees and volunteers.

AWC requests that public records officers closely review this bill and submit any feedback to Candice or Jacob.

HB 1888 is currently in the House Rules Committee awaiting a vote of the House of Representatives.