Cybersecurity Policy Report, Maine House Advances Amended Data Privacy Act, (Mar 27, 2026)
The Maine state House this week voted 74-70 to pass an amended data privacy bill that would establish certain rights and protections for consumers and largely restrict companies from collecting consumers’ sensitive data. The Senate passed the bill earlier this month and the House this week revised some of the Senate amendments to the bill.
The House amended the Maine Online Data Privacy Act (LD 1822) to clarify certain definitions including the definitions of “process” and “processor” to include the collection of personal data. The amendment would clarify that the definition of “collect” does not include “activities between a data controller and a processor, or between a processor and its subcontractors,” thereby narrowing the scope of regulated data collection activities.
The House removed a Senate provision from the bill that would have exempted political organizations from the bill’s provisions. The House version of the bill also pushed back implementation of the bill to Sept. 1, 2027, from Sept. 1, 2026.
The bill, meanwhile, would require companies to allow consumers to opt out of the use of the collection, sale, and use of their personal data for targeted advertising. It would also prohibit companies from collecting data from minors for the purpose of targeted advertising.
The bill (L.D. 1822, Reg Sess.) will head back to the Senate for further consideration.
News: StateLegislation DataPrivacy