S 195 Massachusetts Senate · 193rd Legislature (2023-2024)

An Act to protect personal biometric data

This bill establishes a new law in Massachusetts requiring private companies to protect personal biometric data, such as fingerprints, facial scans, and voiceprints. It mandates that businesses must obtain written consent from individuals before collecting this data and clearly explain why it is being used and how long it will be kept. Companies are also required to create a written policy for storing and eventually destroying this information once its original purpose is fulfilled. The law specifically excludes medical records and standard photographs from these requirements, focusing only on unique physiological traits used for identification.
Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2023
Committee Review
Apr 2024
Senate Passage
Mar 2024
House Passage
Apr 2023
Governor
Introduced Feb 16, 2023 Last action Apr 16, 2024
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate. No roll call record of that vote is available.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
8
Key actions
4
Committee
3
Apr 16, 2024
Upper · Passed
Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means
upper
Mar 21, 2024
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred
upper
Apr 13, 2023
Lower · Passed
House concurred
lower
Apr 6, 2023
Committee
Discharged to the committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity
upper
Feb 16, 2023
Lower · Passed
House concurred
lower
Feb 16, 2023
Committee
Referred to the committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure
upper
1 primary · 5 co-sponsors

Sponsors