StateLens Privacy Policy and Terms of Service
StateLens is a public-benefit project of the New Louisiana Foundation, a nonprofit organization recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
These policies describe how information associated with StateLens is handled and the terms governing use of the StateLens website, applications, data, and related resources.
Last updated: July 25, 2026
Privacy Policy
Information We Collect
StateLens and the New Louisiana Foundation may collect information that you voluntarily provide, including your name, email address, organization, contact information, account information, legislative positions, comments, and other information submitted through StateLens websites, applications, forms, or communications.
We may also collect limited technical information generated through use of our websites and applications, such as IP address, browser and device information, access times, pages or features used, and similar information ordinarily collected through website hosting, security, analytics, and logging systems.
How We Use Information
Information may be used to operate, maintain, secure, improve, and expand StateLens; administer user accounts and organizational participation; communicate with users and participating organizations; respond to inquiries; understand how StateLens is used; and further the charitable and educational purposes of the New Louisiana Foundation.
Information submitted for collaborative features of StateLens, including legislative positions or other information intended to be shared with participating organizations or the public, may be displayed or shared as necessary to provide those features.
Public and Collaborative Information
Some StateLens features are specifically designed to facilitate the exchange of legislative information, observations, positions, and other contributions among participating organizations or with the public.
Information submitted to such features should not be considered private or confidential unless StateLens expressly identifies the feature as private. Users and participating organizations are responsible for determining what information they choose to contribute.
Third-Party Services
StateLens may rely on third-party providers for website hosting, email delivery, analytics, security, data storage, communications, and other technical functions. Information may be processed by those providers to the extent reasonably necessary to perform those functions.
We do not sell personal information.
Legislative and Public Information
StateLens collects, organizes, analyzes, and presents information obtained from legislative bodies, government agencies, public records, participating organizations, and other sources. Information derived from public sources is not treated as private merely because it is collected or displayed through StateLens.
Data Security
We take reasonable measures to protect information maintained through StateLens. No website, application, database, or transmission method can be guaranteed to be completely secure, however, and the New Louisiana Foundation cannot guarantee the security or continued availability of information submitted to or maintained through StateLens.
Data Retention
Information may be retained for as long as reasonably necessary to operate StateLens, preserve historical legislative information, maintain organizational records, comply with applicable law, protect the integrity and security of the project, or further the Foundation's charitable and educational purposes.
Questions About Privacy
Questions concerning this Privacy Policy or information maintained through StateLens may be submitted through the contact information provided on the StateLens website.
Terms of Service
About StateLens
StateLens is a public-benefit project operated by the New Louisiana Foundation, a nonprofit organization recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
StateLens exists to improve access to legislative information and help organizations and the public understand and participate in the legislative process. It may provide legislative data, research tools, organizational positions, observations, collaboration features, scorecards, reports, and other informational resources.
StateLens is not a commercial software-as-a-service product, and participation in or support for the project does not create a commercial service relationship.
Charitable Support
The New Louisiana Foundation may accept charitable contributions from individuals, organizations, foundations, and other supporters to maintain, improve, and expand StateLens.
Financial contributions support the charitable work of the New Louisiana Foundation and the continued development and operation of StateLens. A contribution does not purchase StateLens services, features, access, data, influence, or any other benefit from the Foundation.
Participation in StateLens is strictly voluntary. Access to particular features, and financial support for the project are separate matters. The Foundation does not guarantee access, functionality, continued participation, or any other benefit in exchange for a charitable contribution.
Nothing on the StateLens website should be interpreted as an offer to sell access to StateLens or as a promise to provide goods or services in exchange for a contribution.
Partner Contributions
Organizations participating in StateLens may contribute legislative positions, research, observations, institutional knowledge, expertise, or other information that helps improve the usefulness of the project.
Such participation may constitute an in-kind contribution to the broader StateLens project. Participation does not create an ownership interest in StateLens, the New Louisiana Foundation, or information or resources developed by the Foundation.
Unless otherwise agreed in writing, participating organizations retain responsibility for the positions, opinions, and original materials they submit.
No Guarantee of Service
StateLens is provided as a public-benefit resource on an "as is" and "as available" basis.
The New Louisiana Foundation makes no guarantee that StateLens will be available at any particular time, continue indefinitely, operate without interruption or error, include any particular jurisdiction, legislative body, bill, vote, committee, feature, organization, or dataset, or meet the needs or expectations of any user or participating organization.
Features may be added, modified, limited, suspended, or discontinued at any time.
No Guarantee of Accuracy
StateLens draws upon information from legislative bodies, government agencies, public records, participating organizations, and other sources. Legislative information can change rapidly, and source information may be incomplete, delayed, corrected, unavailable, or inaccurate.
While we endeavor to provide useful and accurate information, the New Louisiana Foundation makes no warranty or guarantee concerning the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, reliability, or availability of information presented through StateLens.
StateLens is not an official legislative record. Users should consult the appropriate legislature, government agency, public record, or other authoritative source when official or legally significant information is required.
Organizational Positions and Observations
Positions, ratings, comments, observations, recommendations, and other information contributed by participating organizations represent those organizations or contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of StateLens or the New Louisiana Foundation.
StateLens may provide tools that aggregate, compare, summarize, or display such information. The appearance of an organization, position, or contribution within StateLens does not constitute endorsement by the New Louisiana Foundation.
No Professional Advice
Information provided through StateLens is for informational and educational purposes. Nothing provided through StateLens constitutes legal, financial, tax, lobbying-compliance, or other professional advice.
Users remain responsible for evaluating information and making their own decisions based upon appropriate sources and professional advice when necessary.
Accounts and Access
Certain StateLens features may require an account or authorization by a participating organization.
Users are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of their account credentials and for activity conducted through their accounts. Access may be limited, suspended, or terminated when reasonably necessary to protect StateLens, its users, participating organizations, the Foundation, or the integrity of the project.
The Foundation may establish or modify eligibility, access, and participation requirements as the project develops.
Acceptable Use
Users may not use StateLens to interfere with the operation or security of the project; gain unauthorized access to accounts, systems, or information; introduce malicious software or automated activity that materially disrupts the project; misrepresent their identity or organizational affiliation; or use StateLens in violation of applicable law.
Reasonable use of publicly available StateLens information for research, education, journalism, public policy, civic engagement, and similar purposes is encouraged, subject to applicable intellectual-property rights and these Terms.
Intellectual Property
StateLens software, branding, design, original research, compilations, documentation, and other materials created by the New Louisiana Foundation are owned by the Foundation or used with permission, except where otherwise indicated.
Government records, legislative materials, public records, and materials contributed by third parties remain subject to whatever rights, restrictions, or public-domain status apply to those materials.
Nothing in these Terms claims ownership of public records merely because StateLens collects, organizes, analyzes, or displays them.
Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, the New Louisiana Foundation and those involved in developing, maintaining, supporting, or contributing to StateLens shall not be liable for losses, damages, claims, or consequences arising from reliance upon information provided through StateLens; errors, omissions, delays, or interruption or discontinuation of the project; unauthorized access or technical failures; or decisions made based upon information obtained through StateLens.
Users assume responsibility for independently verifying information when accuracy is important to their decisions or activities.
Changes to StateLens or These Terms
StateLens is an evolving project. The New Louisiana Foundation may modify the project, its features, participation structure, or these Terms as StateLens develops.
Updated Terms will be posted on this page with a revised "Last updated" date. Continued use of StateLens after an update constitutes acceptance of the then-current Terms.
Contact
Questions regarding StateLens, this Privacy Policy, or these Terms of Service may be submitted through the contact information provided on the StateLens website.