Virginia Senate Passes Privacy Bill Without Opposition

The Virginia Senate voted 36-0 for a comprehensive privacy bill (SB-1392) at a livestreamed floor session Friday. One senator didn’t vote due to a conflict of interest. Companion HB-2307 cleared the House 89-9 on Jan. 29 (see 2102010035). Virginia’s attorney general would enforce the rules. “This bill is an effort to set clear expectations for companies who handle or collect consumer data, and to proactively protect the rights of consumers,” said SB-1392 sponsor Sen. David Marsden (D) in a statement. “We’ve been overwhelmed with feedback from people who have been tracking the Consumer Data Protection Act this legislative session.” The House and Senate versions must be reconciled before session ends Feb. 11, but “that appears to be a mere formality given that the bills are identical and the House bill is already working its way through the Senate,” Husch Blackwell attorney David Stauss blogged Thursday. Other privacy bills are gaining momentum in New York and Washington state, Kelley Drye lawyers blogged Wednesday.