Representative Shaw outlines business-friendly state data-privacy bill and two amendments adopted

Representative Shaw told the County Municipal session that HB 351 is a state data-privacy proposal intended to protect consumers without duplicating existing federal or sectoral regulation.

Shaw described the bill as defining consumer rights, setting applicability thresholds (it generally applies to entities that control data for 25,000 or more consumers or derive more than 25 percent of revenue from selling personal data), and including a list of exemptions to avoid double regulation for entities already covered by sectoral laws. "The idea is we all know how much data is being generated that's personally identifiable for us," Shaw said, noting that the federal government had not yet produced a nationwide privacy standard.

Two amendments were offered and adopted. Amendment Delta Quebec Whiskey 1 removed a statutory requirement to honor automated browser-based opt-out signals after sponsors expressed concern about legislating specific technologies and the potential mismatch between browser behavior and statutory language. Amendment Golf Foxtrot 88 clarified exemptions for nonprofits and addressed First Amendment and political activity concerns, ensuring the bill's nonprofit carve-outs do not unintentionally sweep in campaign activity.

After amendment adoption, the committee used the previous-roll procedure and issued a favorable report on HB 351. Representative Shaw and members emphasized the goal of balancing consumer protections with regulatory simplicity for businesses.