Wash. House Panel Advances Kids Privacy Bill Despite 'Reservations'
A Washington state kids privacy bill needs more work but should advance, House Consumer Protection Committee Chair Amy Walen (D) said Friday. The panel voted 9-6 to clear HB-1834 at a livestreamed executive session.
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“This is a bill that needs a lot of work,” said Walen. “I have some reservations” and many groups have raised concerns. However, talks will continue in the next week or two, she added. The Senate version of the kids privacy bill advanced Thursday (see 2502200038).
The committee adopted two amendments to HB-1834. One would add a definition of business that means “any legal entity that conducts business in Washington or produces or provides products and services that are targeted to consumers in Washington, but does not include government agencies, federally recognized Indian tribes, or contracted service providers when providing services on behalf of a government agency.”
The other amendment exempts video games from being covered by the bill. Its sponsor, Rep. Brandy Donaghy (D), said she would prefer handling games in a separate bill.
The committee decided not to vote on a data broker bill (HB-1887) that Rep. Shelley Kloba (D) wrote. It would have required annual registrations and established a severance tax for data brokers. It won’t move forward this year, said a spokesperson for the sponsor’s office. “Rep. Kloba is committed to the policy and will be working over the interim to bring it back next session.”