Minn. House Panel OK's Privacy Bill Despite Republicans' Concerns

A comprehensive Minnesota data privacy bill cleared a second House committee Tuesday. The State and Local Government Committee voted by voice to advance a comprehensive privacy measure (HF-2309) to the Ways and Means Committee. Last week, the Commerce Committee approved the bill that is based on a model Connecticut and several other states adopted (see 2403050049). The Senate Judiciary Committee plans to weigh the similar SB-2915 on Wednesday. The House committee approved an amendment to HF-2309 that sponsor Rep. Steve Elkins (D) described as more “wordsmithing” based on suggestions by Google, Consumer Reports and others. Exempting airlines, the amendment also refines the definition of sale and aligns sections on data controllers’ responsibilities and implementation requirements, said Elkins. The bill drew opposition from the panel’s lead Republican, Rep. Jim Nash (R), who said he would prefer a federal law to a state patchwork. A U.S. law would be better, but federal legislation is stalled, responded Elkins. "It's been left to the states to take this on." States are “working very hard to align our bills as closely as possible … to avoid that 50-state patchwork that you described,” he said. Still, Rep. Danny Nadeau (R) complained that the Minnesota measure is "really complicated" and "confusing." Meanwhile, other state privacy bills advanced Monday. The Kentucky Senate voted 35-0 for HB-15. Kentucky's House previously approved the bill (see 2402210044) but now must concur with Senate changes. In addition, Maryland’s House Economic Matters Committee voted 14-4 to clear a privacy (HB-567) bill and 19-0 to approve a kids’ safety bill (HB-603). The committee heard the bills last month (see 2402140053).