VermontVermont law sets privacy duties for organizations handling consumer data
Starting January 1, 2028, Vermont organizations meeting the law's data-handling thresholds must follow consumer privacy rules enforced by the Attorney General.
What it does
Covered consumers can ask to correct or delete their data, get a copy, and opt out of targeted ads or data sales.
Covered organizations must limit the data they collect, explain how they use it, and get consent before processing or selling sensitive data.
Covered organizations must assess consumer risks when they use data in high-risk ways or profile people, and share those assessments with the Attorney General upon request.
Argument forConsumers may have more control over their information because they can ask to correct or delete it and opt out of targeted ads or data sales.
Argument againstCovered organizations may need extra staff time to explain data practices, set terms with service providers, and assess risks to consumers.
More detail
The law lets consumers ask whether an organization uses their data, correct or delete it, get a copy, and opt out of targeted ads or data sales. The law generally covers organizations that handle data for at least 35,000 consumers, handle sensitive data for at least 3,000 consumers, or sell data for at least 3,000 consumers. Some organizations and data are exempt. A consumer may name an agent to opt out for them. Organizations must answer requests within a set time, but this summary does not give the length of that time. The law takes effect January 1, 2028.
The law requires covered organizations to limit data collection, explain their data practices, and get consent before processing or selling sensitive data. The law generally covers organizations that handle data for at least 35,000 consumers, handle sensitive data for at least 3,000 consumers, or sell data for at least 3,000 consumers. Some organizations and data are exempt. Organizations may collect only data reasonably needed for its purpose and may not use it for a new purpose that conflicts with that purpose. They may not treat consumers unfairly for using their rights under the law. The law takes effect January 1, 2028.
The law requires organizations to assess risks when they use data in ways that pose a heightened risk of harm or when they profile people. These duties apply to organizations covered by the law that engage in the specified high-risk data use or profiling. The assessment must weigh benefits to the organization against risks to consumers. The organization must provide the assessment to the Attorney General upon request during an investigation. The Attorney General enforces the law through Vermont's consumer protection law. The law takes effect January 1, 2028.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 29Senate Message: Signed by Governor Phil Scott June 16, 2026Latest
- May 29Signed by Governor Phil Scott on June 16, 2026Became Law
- May 29Delivered to Governor on June 10, 2026To Governor
- May 29Senate Message: House proposal of amendment concurred inMinor
- May 29Rules suspended & messaged to House forthwith, on motion of Senator Lyons
- May 29As passed by Senate and HouseMajor
- May 29House proposal of amendment concurred inMinor
- May 29House proposal of amendment; textMinor
- May 29House proposal of amendmentMinor
- May 28House proposal of amendmentMinor
- May 28Entered on Notice Calendar
- May 27House message: House passed bill in concurrence with proposal(s) of amendment
- May 26Rules suspended and bill messaged forthwith to the Senate as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney
- Vote recorded Which was agreed to on a Roll Call Passed -- Needed 66 of 132 to Pass -- Yeas = 129, Nays = 3. Result: pass.Lower
- May 26Read third time and passed in concurrence with proposal of amendmentPassed 2nd Chamber
- May 26Rules suspended and bill placed in all remaining stages of passage as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney
- May 26Third Reading orderedMinor
- May 26Which was agreed to on a Roll Call Passed -- Needed 66 of 132 to Pass -- Yeas = 129, Nays = 3
- May 26Report of Committee on Commerce and Economic Development agreed to
- May 26Rep. Headrick of Burlington demanded yeas and nays
- May 26Rep. Greer of Bennington, Cole of Hartford, Galfetti of Barre Town, Headrick of Burlington, Lipsky of Stowe, Logan of Burlington, McCann of Montpelier, Sibilia of Dover, and Tomlinson of Winooski moved to amend the report of the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development, which was disagreed to
- May 26Rep. Priestley of Bradford reported for the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development
- May 26Read second timeMinor
- May 26Rules suspended and taken up for immediate consideration as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney
- May 26Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- 2025
- Apr 1Read first time and referred to the Committee on Commerce and Economic DevelopmentMinor
- Mar 27Read 3rd time & passedPassed 1st Chamber
- Mar 27New Business/Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 263rd reading ordered
- Vote recorded Recommendation of amendment by Committee on Institutions agreed to on roll call, requested by Senator Beck, Passed -- Needed 15 of 29 to Pass -- Yeas = 29, Nays = 0. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 26Recommendation of amendment by Committee on Institutions agreed to on roll call, requested by Senator Beck, Passed -- Needed 15 of 29 to Pass -- Yeas = 29, Nays = 0
- Mar 26Roll Call, Requested by Sen. Beck
- Mar 26Read 2nd time, reported favorably with recommendation of amendment by Senator Plunkett for Committee on InstitutionsMinor
- Mar 26Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on InstitutionsMinor
- Mar 26Unfinished Business/Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 25Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on InstitutionsMinor
- Mar 25Unfinished Business/Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 21Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on InstitutionsMinor
- Mar 21Unfinished Business/Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 20Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on InstitutionsMinor
- Mar 20Unfinished Business/Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 19Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on InstitutionsMinor
- Mar 19New Business/Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 18Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on InstitutionsMinor
- Mar 18Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 18Entered on Notice Calendar
- Feb 26Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs relieved; bill committed to Committee on Institutions on motion of Senator Clarkson
- Feb 18Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General AffairsIntroduced
Consumer ProtectionAI & Privacy