Maine House Advances Data Privacy Legislation with Unique Protections

Maine House Advances Unique Data Privacy Legislation

In a 75-70 vote on Tuesday, lawmakers in the Maine House of Representatives advanced data privacy legislation that supporters say would be groundbreaking in the United States. The bill, L.D. 1977, aims to protect individual privacy and limit the type of digital information companies can collect and maintain.

Sponsored by Rep. Maggie O’Neil, D-Saco, the bill has been praised for its focus on protecting Mainers’ personal information. O’Neil stated, “Mainers value privacy. We want control over who has our personal information, how it gets shared, and how it gets used, and that’s what this bill does.”

However, business groups and opponents have raised concerns about the potential impact on Maine businesses. Quincy Hentzel, CEO of the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce, expressed worries that the legislation could detach Maine businesses from the global online marketplace and hinder their ability to advertise online effectively.

If passed, the bill would take effect on July 1, 2025, and would regulate the collection, use, processing, transfer, sale, and deletion of non-publicly available personal data linked to Maine residents. It would require businesses to limit the collection and processing of personal and sensitive data to what is necessary to provide or maintain a specific product or service requested by the consumer.

The bill also includes provisions for obtaining consumer permission before collecting biometric data and requiring parental consent for processing data of consumers under the age of 13. Businesses would need to provide consumers with a privacy notice explaining how their data is being used and shared.

While the House approved L.D. 1977, a competing bill, L.D. 1973, was voted against in the Senate. Sen. Lisa Keim, R-Dixfield, co-sponsor of L.D. 1973, acknowledged that the bill needs refinement but emphasized the importance of finding a balance between business interests and consumer privacy.

The debate over data privacy legislation in Maine reflects broader discussions happening at the state and federal levels. Patrick Woodcock, president and CEO of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, highlighted the need for a federal approach to data privacy laws to ensure consistency across states and protect businesses from undue restrictions.

As the bill moves to the Senate for further consideration, the future of data privacy legislation in Maine remains uncertain, with stakeholders on both sides continuing to advocate for their positions.