(The Center Square) – Promotion, demotion, transfer, suspension, separation and dismissal reasons in North Carolina government would become public record if a proposal by two Republicans becomes law.
The Government Transparency Act of 2025, also known as Senate Bill 299, is “an act to strengthen confidence in government by increasing accessibility to certain public personnel performance and dismissal records.” Sens. Norman Sanderson of Pamlico County and Buck Newton of Wilson introduced the legislation Monday.
The language of the bill says in part, “Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize disclosure of any confidential information protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, 110 Stat. 1936, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 104 Stat. 327, or applicable law.”
HIPPA is a national standard for protecting medical records or other personal health information. The ADA involves civil rights, and the protection against discrimination in public life.
The law would be inclusive of each department, agency, institution, commission and bureau of the state for each employee. Employer, the bill says, “means any state department, university, division, bureau, commission, council or other agency subject to this article.” It further adds university means its respective board, trustees, chancellor, constituent institutions or its presidents.
The law would apply to local boards of education.
