HB1408

I support the intent of HB1408 because constituents should never face retaliation or harassment from elected officials, especially through the online disclosure of sensitive personal information. This bill appropriately targets misuse of power while preserving transparency and public access to government records.

It's discouraging that a bill like this has to be proposed, but it has become necessary. Public officials need to be restrained from harassing people who exercise their free speech rights. Please vote this OTP.

This is common sense. Apparently there are some folks who don’t understand that it is wrong and dangerous to share someone else’s personal information on the internet. This should be a no-brainer for anyone in elected office. But apparently, there are some brainless folks who do this so they need a little help remembering how to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with their role in civil society. Vote OTP

I am in full support of this bill and in protecting private personal information

Harassment and domestic terrorism should be illegal no matter who is doing it. Anyone in government who does this should be impeached as well.

L

I support HB 1408 because doxxing is dangerous and no one should have to worry about an elected official putting their personal information online to intimidate or threaten them. This bill keeps people safe while still allowing transparency and public records to remain public.

To the Honorable Members of the Legislature, I respectfully submit this testimony in support of HB 1408, which creates a misdemeanor offense when an elected official publicly discloses a constituent’s personal information on the Internet with the intent to harass. This bill addresses a narrow but serious abuse of power and reinforces fundamental principles of public trust, fairness, and accountability. Elected officials hold positions of authority and visibility that private individuals do not. When that power is used to expose a constituent’s personal information online for the purpose of harassment, the harm is amplified and deeply unfair. HB 1408 recognizes that such conduct is not ordinary speech—it is an abuse of office that can result in intimidation, threats, and real-world danger for private citizens. HB 1408 is carefully tailored. It does not restrict legitimate political speech, criticism, debate, or the sharing of information related to public policy or government operations. The bill applies only when an elected official acts with *intent to harass* and targets *personal information* of a constituent. This intent-based standard ensures that the law addresses misconduct, not disagreement or dissent. The Internet enables rapid, widespread dissemination of personal data, often leading to pile-on harassment, threats, and stalking. When an elected official initiates or encourages this behavior by disclosing a constituent’s personal information, it legitimizes and escalates the harm. HB 1408 provides a necessary deterrent to prevent this misuse of digital platforms by those entrusted with public power. Citizens must feel safe contacting their representatives, voicing concerns, and participating in civic life without fear of retaliation. If constituents believe that speaking out could result in being publicly exposed or targeted by an elected official, many will simply stay silent. HB 1408 helps ensure that government remains accessible and responsive to the people it serves. Elected officials are rightly held to higher ethical standards. Using one’s office or public platform to harass a constituent undermines confidence in government and damages democratic norms. By establishing clear consequences for this behavior, HB 1408 reinforces the expectation that public office is a public trust. HB 1408 is a measured and necessary response to a specific form of misconduct that threatens individual safety and democratic participation. It protects constituents from harassment, preserves free expression, and promotes ethical conduct by elected officials. For these reasons, I urge the legislature to support HB 1408. Respectfully submitted, Blake Wilder

I strongly and unequivocally support HB 1408. In a time when government is under intense scrutiny and public trust is fragile, elected officials must not exploit their position to harass or intimidate constituents. Publicly disclosing personal information with malicious intent is a blatant abuse of power and must be criminalized. This bill makes clear that no one—not even a government official—is above the law when it comes to violating privacy and threatening safety.