Committee adopts amendment and advances House Bill 1514 on data return at contract termination

Representative Steven Meeks told the committee that House Bill 1514 would require an entity to return data to the state after a contract expires. Meeks said concerns were raised about language applying the requirement to existing contracts and that the amendment removes that section and allows the state and private data companies to negotiate data-handling at termination. "This is actually the language that, AT and T presented to us and, that we now present to the committee for adoption," Meeks said.

Senators adopted the amendment (motion by Senator Reid; second by Senator Hill) and, with no further questions, voted to pass the bill (motion carried by Senator English; second by Senator Eads). One person, Kevin White, was listed as available to speak for the bill but did not take the floor in committee.

The amendment limits retroactive application of the data-return requirement and creates space for negotiated transitions at contract termination. Committee members did not record additional public testimony during this session.