The proposed bill, General Assembly Committee Bill No. 6002, aims to align state agencies with the same data protection and privacy laws that govern the private sector. It seeks to amend existing statutes by repealing certain provisions that exempt state bodies and political subdivisions from these laws. Specifically, the bill replaces the language in section 42-517, section 42-526, and section 42-529d to remove exemptions for state agencies and instead includes them under the same regulations that apply to private entities. This change is intended to enhance consumer health data protection by ensuring that state agencies adhere to the same standards as private organizations.

Key amendments include the removal of references to "body, authority, board, bureau, commission, district or agency of this state" and the insertion of "political subdivision of this state" in multiple sections. The bill also emphasizes that consumer health data must be handled with confidentiality and consent, prohibiting the sale of such data without consumer approval. The effective date for these changes is set for January 1, 2026, thereby providing a timeline for state agencies to comply with the new regulations. The overarching goal of the bill is to strengthen data privacy protections for consumers by holding state entities accountable to the same legal standards as the private sector.

Statutes affected:
Committee Bill: 42-526