Iowa House Passes 'Business Friendly' Privacy Bill

An Iowa privacy bill opposed by consumer privacy groups passed the House in a 91-2 vote Monday. HF-2506 goes next to the Senate. Consumer Reports is disappointed, said Senior Policy Analyst Maureen Mahoney in a statement. “We opposed the weak bill as introduced, but the bill that advanced has been weakened further and won’t protect the privacy of Iowans.” CR, Common Sense, Electronic Frontier Foundation and other consumer groups opposed HF-2506 in a letter last week to House leaders. Like the Utah bill that recently passed, Iowa’s bill is a "far more business friendly" version of Virginia and Colorado laws, Husch Blackwell lawyer David Stauss blogged. If enacted, it would take effect Jan. 1, 2024. Maryland senators converted a proposed privacy law into a study bill. The Senate Finance Committee voted 11-0 Friday to clear SB-11 with an amendment, posted Tuesday, to establish a privacy workgroup that would review business practices with consumer data, analyze other state, federal and international protections, and recommend legislation. The amended bill received a second reading on the floor Tuesday, a procedural move that tees up a final vote.