Youngkin Seeks Changes to Va. Bills on Pole Attachments and Kids' Privacy

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) asked state legislators Monday to edit bills approved last month about pole attachments and children’s privacy. In addition, Youngkin signed SB-487 to order a study on public bodies’ use of AI. On the pole attachments measure (HB-800/SB-713), the governor recommended allowing the Virginia State Corporation Commission to extend the bill’s deadline to resolve pole disputes by at most 60 days. The underlying bill requires the commission to resolve pole access disputes, including on allocating rearrangement costs, within 90 days, and all other pole attachment matters within 120 days. On the children’s privacy bill (HB-707/SB-361), the governor recommended an amendment that would add language related to the federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). “Controllers and processors that comply with the verifiable parental consent requirements of [COPPA] shall be deemed compliant with any obligation to obtain parental consent under this chapter if a child is under the age of 13,” it said. “For a child 13 years of age or older, controllers and processors shall be deemed compliant with any obligation to obtain parental consent for this chapter if the controller or processor adheres to methods in regulations promulgated by the [FTC] for compliance with obtaining consent from a child's parent or legal guardian in accordance with the federal [COPPA].” Also, Youngkin proposed adding a line saying that controllers may not “process sensitive data concerning a known child 13 years of age or older, without processing such data pursuant to the applicable provisions for children under the age of 13 in accordance with” COPPA.