An Act establishing a commission regarding the privacy of sensitive information in legal documents

HD 3826 creates a commission to study how sensitive personal information (like addresses, Social Security numbers, medical details, and child custody terms) is handled in Massachusetts court documents. The commission, composed of judges, court officials, domestic violence experts, public records specialists, and advocacy representatives, will recommend whether such data should be publicly accessible online, available only through in-person requests at courthouses, or kept private. It must submit its findings and recommendations to courts and lawmakers by January 1, 2026. This bill itself does not change current access rules but sets up a process to review and potentially reform court document privacy practices.