SB 289 — PUBLIC RECORDS: Provides for confidentiality of certain information in public records requests for universities. (8/1/26)

SLS 26RS-507 REENGROSSED Regular Session ENROLLED SENATE BILL NO.

289 BY SENATOR ABRAHAM PUBLICAN RECORDS.ACT To enact R.S.

Provides44:3.7 forand confidentialityto ofrepeal certainR.S. information in public records requests for universities.

(8/1/26)44:4(56), ANrelative ACTto Topublic enactrecords; R.S.

44:4(65)to throughprovide (67),for relativeexemptions to the public records law for certain university records;

to provide for exemptionsconfidentiality tothepublicrecordslawforcertainuniversityrecords;toprovideforconfidentiality of applicants for certain executive-level university positions;

44:4(65)44:3.7 throughis (67)hereby areenacted herebyenacted to read as follows:

§4.§3.7.

ExemptionsCertain Thisrecords Chapterof shallpublic notpostsecondary apply:education institutions A.

*Nothing *in *this (65)Chapter Toshall anybe record,construed includingto resumes,require applications,the anddisclosure identifyingofrecords,ortheinformationcontainedtherein,heldbyapublicpostsecondary information,ofanapplicantforanexecutivepositionatapublicpostsecondaryeducation educationinstitution,includingbutnotlimitedtopresidents,chancellors,seniorinstitution, vicewhich chancellors,records andare: athletic coaches.

This(1) exceptionApplications, shallresumes, expireor oncethe anypersonally finalistidentifiable information of an applicant for president, chancellor, senior vice chancellor, or athletic coach at the positionpublic postsecondary education institution, unless the applicant has authorizedthedisclosureofsuchrecordsandinformation.Thisexemptionshall expire once an applicant is approved for the position by the governing board, at which pointtime the records of the finalisttop whothree appliedfinalists, forincluding the positionapproved shallapplicant,shallbecomepublic.Thisexemptionshallcontinueforanyapplicant becomethatisnotamongthetopthreefinalistsfortheposition,unlesstheapplicanthas public.authorized the disclosure of such records and information.

This(2) Any portion of a record that identifies the name of a donor to the public postsecondary education institution or its affiliated foundation if the Page 1 of 3 Coding:

SLS 26RS-507 REENGROSSED SB NO.

289 exemptionENROLLED shalldonor continuehas forrequested thethat recordshis ofname anyremain applicantconfidential. who is not named a finalist for the position.

(66)(3) ToRecords any record that identifiescontain orproprietary, couldunpublished, lead to the identification of a private donor or prospectiveincomplete donoracademic toresearch aand publicunsubmitted postsecondarygrant educationapplications. institutionoritsaffiliatedfoundation,unlessthedonorprovideswrittenconsent for disclosure.

This exception shall notexpire exemptupon recordsthe concerningdisclosure, publication, public announcement, or public knowledge of the amountresearch or the grant application, upon the submission of athe donationtoapostsecondaryeducationinstitutionoritsaffiliatedfoundationorrelated thespecificuseofgrant donatedapplication, publicor funds.upon the grant or denial of related intellectual property rights.

Donor(4)(a) recordsRecords maintainedof bynegotiations apublicfor postsecondaryindustry educationpartnerships institution'swith foundationthe thatinstitution areupon confidentiala butdetermination areby requestedbythefoundation'sparentpublicpostsecondaryeducationinstitutionthe shallcustodian remainof confidentialrecords andthat shalldisclosure remainof exemptthe frominformation disclosurewould underhave thea Publicdetrimental Recordseffect Law.on the negotiations.

(67)The Tocustodian's recordsdetermination maintainedshall bybe adisclosed publicin postsecondaryresponse education institution that contain proprietary research, unpublished data, grant applications, or information related to intellectual property (IP) and industry partnerships, where disclosure would reasonably result in a competitiverequest disadvantagefor to the institutionrecords. or its partners or could result in research being taken or used by a competitor.

Once(b) theNo researchinformation ismade publishedconfidential inpursuant ato peer-this reviewedParagraph journal,shall aremain patentconfidential isfor officiallymore grantedthan andtwelve publishedmonths byfrom the Uniteddate Statesof Patentthe andcustodian'sdeterminationthatdisclosurewouldbedetrimental;however,ifthe Trademarknegotiation Office,remains theactive grantand periodthe hascustodian beenmakes completed,a ornew thedetermination institutionthat determinesthedisclosureoftheinformationwouldbedetrimentaltothenegotiations,such the information noshall longerremain meetsconfidential while the criterianegotiation remains active,not to remainprivate;thisexceptionshallexpireandtherecordsshallbecomepublic.exceed an additional six months.

TheB.ThisChaptershallnotapplytothepersonallyidentifiableinformation originalof instrumentany person who reports a violation of a student code of conduct or other policy intended for the safety of students or employees of a postsecondary education institution, personally identifiable information of any reported witnesstothereportedviolation,and,ifthereportedviolationinvolvesviolence orabuse,personallyidentifiableinformationofanypersonwhomaybeavictim ofviolenceorabusedirectlyrelatedtothereportedviolationifsuchinformation is in the custody or control of the postsecondary education institution or management board and was received in accordance with adopted, written policies applicable to the followingpostsecondary digest,education whichinstitution constitutesand nothe partstudents and employees of the legislativepostsecondary instrument,education wereinstitution, preparedunless bySenateaccess Legislativeto Services.the Page 2 of 3 Coding:

The keyword, summary, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent.

[R.S.

1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] DIGEST SB 289 Reengrossed 2026 Regular Session Abraham Present law provides exemptions to the Louisiana Public Records Law.

Proposed law creates an exemption for applicants to executive positions at public postsecondary education institutions.

Page 2 of 3 Coding:

SLS 26RS-507 REENGROSSED SB NO.

289 ProposedENROLLED lawinformationisspecificallyrequiredbyotherprovisionsoflawofthisstateorby providesfederal alaw sunsetor periodis forordered thoseby records once a finalistcourt forunder therules jobof hasdiscovery. been approved by the governing board.

ProposedSection law2. maintains an exemption for the records of applicants that are not named finalists of a job.

ProposedR.S. law creates an exemption for records that would identify a donor to a public postsecondary institution.

Proposedlawprovides44:4(56) an exception to the exemption thatdoesnot keepprivatetheamount of money donated or where the donation is beinghereby usedrepealed. by the institution.

ProposedPRESIDENT lawOF maintainsTHE anSENATE exemptionSPEAKER forOF aTHE publicHOUSE postsecondaryOF institution'sREPRESENTATIVES foundationGOVERNOR recordsOF thatTHE areSTATE receivedOF bytheLOUISIANA parentAPPROVED: institution.

Proposed law provides an exemption for records maintained by a public postsecondary educationinstitution thatcontainproprietaryresearch,unpublisheddata,grantapplications, or information related to intellectual property(IP) and industry partnerships.

Proposedlaw provides sunset provisions for various types of records indifferentsituations.

Effective on August 1, 2026.

(Adds R.S.

44.4(65)-(67)) Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs to the original bill 1.

Changes "executive level or high impact" language to "executive".

2.

Removes "deans" from bill language.

3.