VA’s Consumer Geolocation Data Privacy Bill & More

States Target Sale of Consumer Geolocation Data

Virginia’s Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology advanced a bill (SB 338) that would amend the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act to prohibit the sale of consumers’ precise geolocation data. The chamber unanimously passed a similar measure last year but it was not advanced in the House, according to a press release from Consumer Reports.

In a letter to the chair of the Senate General Laws and Technology Committee, representatives from Consumer Reports, the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) and Tech Equity Action, expressed support for SB 338, saying: “It is especially imperative that we protect the privacy rights of our communities at a time of increasing attacks on immigrants, minority community members, LGBTQ people, and individuals seeking reproductive health care.”

Consumer Reports has also drafted model legislation to give lawmakers a framework for protecting consumer geolocation data.

Maryland and Oregon have passed laws banning the sale of such information. And several other states, including California, Maine, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Vermont and Washington are expected to consider similar bans. (CONSUMER REPORTS, LEXISNEXIS STATE NET)

SD Legislative Leaders Introduce Data Center Bill of Rights

South Dakota Senate President Pro Tem Chris Karr (R) and Speaker of the House Jon Hansen (R) have introduced legislation (SB 135) they’re calling the “Data Center Bill of Rights.” Among other things, the bill would require data center operators to cover all costs associated with providing electricity to their facilities; prohibit the state government from granting tax breaks for data centers, although it wouldn’t prevent local governments from doing so; and prohibit the state government from preempting the authority of local governments “to adopt ordinances and resolutions limiting, prohibiting, or otherwise regulating the construction, development, or operation of data centers.” (SOUTH DAKOTA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, LEXISNEXIS STATE NET)

—Compiled by SNCJ Managing Editor KOREY CLARK

Visit our webpage to connect with a LexisNexis® State Net® representative and learn how the State Net legislative and regulatory tracking service can help you identify, track, analyze and report on relevant legislative and regulatory developments.