The proposed bill establishes a data broker registry in Washington State, requiring data brokers to register with the Department of Licensing by January 1, 2026, unless they are engaged in exempt activities such as providing publicly available information related to a resident individual's business. The bill defines key terms like "data broker," "brokered personal data," and "data brokering," and mandates that data brokers provide detailed information about their data collection practices, including the types of data collected and the security measures implemented.

Furthermore, the legislation introduces a monthly severance tax based on the number of resident individuals whose data is collected, featuring a tiered tax structure that escalates with the volume of data. Data brokers are required to maintain records and file monthly returns until they report no tax liability for 12 consecutive months. The Department of Licensing is responsible for making registration information publicly accessible and may adopt necessary rules for the bill's implementation. New chapters will be added to Title 19 and Title 82 of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), with specific sections taking effect on January 1, 2027, to enhance oversight and compliance within the data brokering industry.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 18.235.020