SB329 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Will BarfootSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to judges and justices; to prohibit government agencies, individuals, businesses, and associations from publicly posting or displaying judge's or justice's personal information on the Internet, provided they have received a written request from the judge or justice to refrain from doing so; to prohibit commercial data collectors from knowingly selling, trading, licensing, transferring, or purchasing judges' personal information; to provide for a process for a judge or justice to request their personal information not be made public; to provide for penalties for violations; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Section 111.05 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022.

Summary

SB329 creates the Judicial Privacy Act to shield judges and their immediate families’ personal information from public online posting and data broker activity, with a formal process for requests and penalties for violations.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, government agencies, individuals, businesses, and associations could not publicly post a judicial officer or their immediate family’s personal information online after a written privacy request. Agencies would have 10 business days to remove the information from their websites, while private parties would have 72 hours to remove it after receiving the request; the information would be confidential and not a public record. The act also bans data brokers from knowingly selling or transferring judges’ personal information and creates a process for judges to submit written requests, including a way for a representative with consent to file on the judge’s behalf. Violations could lead to court orders and the responsible party paying the judicial officer’s court costs and attorney fees.

Who It Affects

• Judicial officers (judges and justices) and their immediate family, who gain privacy protections and the ability to require removal of personal information from public websites.
• Government agencies and their employees or contractors who handle public information, who must remove protected personal information within specified timelines and keep it confidential.
• Data brokers and similar entities, who are prohibited from selling or transferring judges' personal information and face remedies if they violate the ban.
• Employers or authorized representatives of judicial officers, who may file written requests on behalf of a judge with consent, with oversight by the Administrative Office of Courts.

Key Provisions

• Prohibition and removal: It is unlawful to publicly post a judicial officer or immediate family member's personal information online after a written request; government agencies must remove within 10 business days, private actors within 72 hours, and the information remains confidential; violations can be enjoined by court order.
• Data broker ban: Data brokers may not knowingly sell, license, trade for consideration, or transfer a judicial officer's or immediate family member's personal information; violations allow injunctive relief and payment of court costs and attorney fees.
• Written request process: Judicial officers use a form developed by the Alabama Administrative Office of Courts (AOC) to submit requests; the AOC distributes a list every three months to agencies; a representative with consent can file on behalf of the officer; requests must specify what stays private and may designate secondary addresses; the request remains valid until revoked and ends at the officer's death.
• Exemptions and effective date: News reporting, voluntary postings, or information from government sources may be displayed; the act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage, with specific enforcement and implementation details outlined.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.