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HB 26-1037

signed

Ban Government Purchase of Personal Data from Third Party

Plain-English Summary

AI-generated

House Bill 26-1037, which has been signed into law, stops government entities like law enforcement from buying personal information about individuals from third parties. This means that these agencies can no longer purchase data such as your online activity or shopping habits to use in investigations unless they have a warrant, subpoena, court order, or an emergency situation where someone's life is at risk. The law also allows people whose data was improperly obtained to sue the government for violating their privacy rights. This bill affects how government agencies can gather and use personal information during criminal investigations and other enforcement activities.

Official Summary

The bill prohibits law enforcement and other government entities from purchasing, or otherwise obtaining for anything of value, certain personal data from third parties. Law enforcement agencies and other government entities are also prohibited from sharing individuals' personal data between themselves.Exceptions are created for obtaining personal data, including after obtaining a judicial warrant, subpoena, or court order, when an individual consents to sharing their data and, in the case of an emergency, involving a threat to a person's life or physical safety.The bill creates a private cause of action for an individual who has their personal data obtained or shared in violation of the prohibitions in the bill. Personal data obtained or shared is excluded from trial and other court proceedings, subject to certain exceptions.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Details

Chamber
House
First action
2026-04-22
Latest action
2026-01-14
Last action desc.
Introduced In House - Assigned to Judiciary
OpenStates
View source ↗

Topics

Courts & JudicialCrimes, Corrections, & Enforcement

Votes

Adopt amendment L.009 (Attachment A).
2026-04-22 · House · passYes: · No: · Other:
Refer House Bill 26-1037, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.
2026-04-22 · House · failYes: · No: · Other:
Postpone House Bill 26-1037 indefinitely.
2026-04-22 · House · passYes: · No: · Other: