By Mr. Brownsberger and Mr.Rogers of Cambridge, a joint petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 3090) (subject to Joint Rule 12) of William N. Brownsberger and David M. Rogers for legislation relative to consumer connected devices. Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.
By Representative Rogers of Cambridge and Senator Brownsberger, a joint petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of David M. Rogers, William N. Brownsberger and others relative to consumer connected devices. Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.
By Mr. Brownsberger and Mr. Rogers of Cambridge, a joint petition (accompanied by bill) (subject to Joint Rule 12) of William N. Brownsberger and David M. Rogers for legislation relative to consumer connected devices. Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.
H 4807 updates Massachusetts' data security laws by defining key terms and strengthening protections for personal information. It directly affects Massachusetts government agencies, departments, and businesses (called "service providers") that handle residents' data, including new categories like biometric data (e.g., fingerprints) and neural data (e.g., brain activity measurements). The bill expands what counts as "personal information" to include sensitive details like health history, precise location data, and financial account numbers, and requires clearer breach notifications - such as free security freeze options - within 30 days of discovering a breach. It also mandates that organizations implement security programs to protect data and comply with federal standards.
By Ms. Kennedy, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 250) of Robyn K. Kennedy, Steven Owens and Manny Cruz for legislation relative to consumer health data. Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.
By Ms. Kennedy, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 250) of Robyn K. Kennedy, Steven Owens and Manny Cruz for legislation relative to consumer health data. Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.
This bill updates state laws to support municipal electricity load aggregation programs, enabling cities and towns to create customized electricity supply options for residents and small businesses. It requires electricity distribution companies to share consumer contact and usage data (with opt-out options) with municipalities running these programs, mandates clear disclosure about automatic enrollment and program costs, and protects all consumer data collected for the program as confidential. The bill also ensures municipal aggregators can access detailed electricity usage data to develop their programs and establishes a simplified billing option for these programs. These changes aim to streamline program implementation while safeguarding consumer privacy and transparency.
This bill requires credit reporting agencies and lenders to obtain explicit consumer consent before sharing loan application details with third parties. It directly affects consumers applying for loans (including mortgages, credit union loans, or bank loans) and the financial institutions handling those applications. Key provisions mandate that lenders provide clear, conspicuous notice at the time of application explaining consumers' right to opt-in to sharing their loan data, using specific language about consent and potential compensation for violations. The law prohibits selling or sharing this information without prior, informed consent.
This bill creates a task force to explore replacing gas taxes with mileage-based fees for road funding. It directs Massachusetts to develop a pilot program testing technology that charges drivers based on miles traveled, including privacy protections and data security measures. The pilot will involve 1,000 volunteers across vehicle types and regions for at least one year, with participants refunded for fuel tax payments. The task force must gather public input through hearings and report findings to the legislature within three years, including feasibility analysis and recommendations for permanent implementation.
This bill prohibits grocery stores and food departments (defined as locations selling 100+ food items) from adjusting prices or suggesting items based on biometric data (like fingerprints or voiceprints) collected on their premises. It directly affects retailers that use such data for pricing or product recommendations. The law allows voluntary biometric identity verification at checkout but bans all other use of biometric data for personalized pricing. Violations are treated as unfair business practices under Chapter 93A, with penalties of actual damages or $5,000 per violation.