Washington DC bill seeks to hide student and employee data from public records
A new bill in Washington DC aims to shield certain public employee and student details from public records requests. Senate Bill 6049, sponsored by Sen. Claire Wilson, seeks to update privacy rules around surveys and hate crime survivor status. Supporters claim the changes will boost participation by ensuring anonymity in sensitive cases.
The proposed law focuses on two main areas: student surveys and employee protections. It would exempt responses from the Healthy Youth Survey, a biennial questionnaire for sixth to twelfth graders covering topics like substance use, mental health, and physical activity. Current technology, according to backers, could potentially identify individuals even from anonymised answers.
The bill also protects public employees who are hate crime survivors—or fear becoming victims—by shielding their names and personal details from disclosure. The Office of Financial Management believes these measures will encourage more honest participation in surveys and better protect vulnerable workers.
Critics, however, argue that the bill broadens government secrecy without clear evidence of a problem. They warn it could undermine transparency laws. The Washington Post declined to comment when contacted by The Center Square.
SB 6049 is set for committee review on February 3, where lawmakers will debate its balance between privacy and public access to records.
If passed, the bill would mark a shift in how Washington DC handles sensitive survey data and employee records. The changes would apply specifically to the Healthy Youth Survey and hate crime-related protections. The outcome of the February 3 hearing will determine whether the measures advance further.
