Senate military committee advances bill to exempt certain military records from public disclosure

The West Virginia Senate Military Committee voted to report Senate Bill 208 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass.

Committee counsel told members SB 208 is intended to clarify and incorporate into state code categories of military records that should be exempt from public release, including information classified to protect state and national security, vulnerability assessments, records related to terrorist acts and intelligence sharing, deployment plans for the armed services and the National Guard, and "sensitive military information that would threaten public safety if disclosed."

"Senate Bill 208 exempt[s] certain military records from public release in the state, including under the state's Freedom of Information Act," counsel said, noting the statute incorporates categories largely already exempted under FOIA to give departments clear guidance on what is and is not releasable. Counsel also said the bill had been reported from this committee and passed the Senate unanimously in prior years but was not taken up by the other chamber.

After counselexplanation and no offered amendments, a senator moved that SB 208 be reported to the full Senate with the recommendation that it pass. The chairman called for a voice vote; the motion was approved and the chairman declared that the bill will be reported to the full Senate for further consideration.

The transcript records the committee-level discussion and counsel's description of the categories to be exempted; it does not include a roll-call tally and indicates past unanimous passage in prior Senate sessions but not final action by the other chamber.