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SB 973

AN ACT PERMITTING REDACTION FEES FOR THE DISCLOSURE OF RECORDS CREATED BY POLICE BODY-WORN RECORDING EQUIPMENT OR DASHBOARD CAMERAS UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jill Barry and 1 co-sponsor

Connecticut bill allows police to charge fees for redacting sensitive information from body camera and dashboard camera footage released through public records requests.

FILE NO. 77
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Bill Summary · SB 973

Legislative bill overview

SB 973 permits Connecticut police departments to charge redaction fees when disclosing body-worn camera and dashboard camera footage under Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. The bill allows agencies to recover costs associated with removing sensitive information (such as faces, addresses, or victims' identities) from police video recordings before release to the public.

Why is this important

This bill directly affects transparency and public access to police accountability records. Body camera footage is increasingly relied upon by journalists, advocates, and citizens to examine police conduct and department practices. Imposing redaction fees could create a financial barrier to accessing these records, potentially impacting oversight of law enforcement and public understanding of police operations.

Potential points of contention

  • Access equity: Redaction fees may disproportionately burden lower-income individuals, journalists, and advocacy organizations seeking to review police conduct, potentially creating a two-tiered system where only well-funded entities can afford thorough review
  • Transparency vs. privacy: While redactions protect legitimate privacy interests (victims, witnesses, minors), fees that discourage requests could undermine the original intent of FOIA—ensuring government accountability through public access
  • Cost determination: The bill doesn't clearly specify how redaction fees will be calculated, potentially allowing departments to set prohibitively high fees and creating inconsistency across agencies

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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