Address confidentiality rules strengthened

A measure intended to strengthen confidentiality laws related to the residences of members of certain professions in Nebraska passed May 14.

Under current law, a county assessor and register of deeds are required to withhold from the public the residential address of law enforcement officers, some members of the Nebraska National Guard and judges who live in the county and apply in writing.

LB166, sponsored by Seward Sen. Jana Hughes, adds county treasurers to the list of local officials who are instructed to withhold qualifying residential information.

Included in the bill are provisions of Hughes’ LB334. Those provisions specify that forms that include information about a judge’s place of residence related to filing for retention in office with the Nebraska secretary of state are not public records and not subject to disclosure.

LB166 passed on a 48-1 vote.