relative to the protection of personal information in driver licenses.

HB 1273 aims to strengthen the protection of personal data found on driver licenses by clarifying what information is considered private and restricting how private businesses can use it. The bill defines personal information to include details like photos, social security numbers, and addresses, while explicitly prohibiting private companies from electronically capturing, copying, or storing this data after verifying a customer's identity for financial transactions. It establishes strict penalties for violations, requiring businesses to pay $10,000 to affected individuals for identity theft resolution costs and allowing consumers to file legal cases against entities that improperly request or share license information. However, the bill includes exceptions for specific government officials, such as notaries and court clerks, who may retain copies of licenses for official record-keeping purposes.