Thursday, SEPTEMBER 25, 2025 |
In the Wyoming Legislature on Tuesday, a draft bill, concerning data privacy for government entities, advanced this week in committee.
Senator Chris Rothfus of Albany County rushed the testimony before the Select Committee on Blockchain, Financial Technology and Digital Innovation Technology. The Democrat chair put the spurs to the committee, saying several times that lawmakers needed to make a lunch appointment.
What lawmakers were considering was a mouthful and involves how state government handles your private data. Theresa Hansen with the Legislative Service Office provided a top view of 26LSO-0012.
The core provision of “Data privacy-government entities,” prohibits government entities from purchasing, selling, trading or transferring personal data without the “express consent of the natural person” referenced.
Businesses and corporate entities were specifically left out of the draft according to testimony during the hearing.
The bill also mandates that government entities collecting or retaining personal data must adopt policies concerning collection, retention, security and use that are consistent with applicable laws. Government entities are prohibited from maintaining personal data for longer than three years without a written policy providing a “reasonable justification for the extended retention period.”
Objections to the bill included the lack of any federal standards and the lack of tie-in with other states on the issue.
Some said the draft legislation could have “unintended consequences.” Others said the legislation protects individuals but not corporations.
Senator Rothfuss said the committee had consulted with Wyoming’s county clerks and had heard no objections.
During public testimony, Joey Correnti IV, former chairman of the Carbon County Republican Party, said that language in the bill draft prohibiting the transfer or sale of personal data would include voter data.
Correnti is a member of the Canvassing Board in Carbon County. Correnti noted that the Secretary of State’s office already provides transfer or sale of statewide voter rolls for $165. He also voiced concern that the three-year deletion requirement could undermine the historical archive of individual voters.
Two Democrats on the committee addressed the comment. Representative Yin admitted that the language in the bill is structured in “a weird way.”
In a rush to get to lunch, Senator Rothfuss also defended the language in the bill while admitting the bill may need more work.
The Democrats, having defended the bill draft as it stands now, say that the intent is to force transparency in protecting private data, then broke for lunch in Cheyenne.
The bill could have other concerns. Mike Smith, Vice President of Governmental Affairs and Community Engagement for the University of Wyoming, said that UW’s estimated revision of a computer system, that would result from the legislation, cost taxpayers around $800,000 if it becomes law. Concerns about administrative costs, conflicts with public record laws and the exclusion of corporate data also were discussed.
A similar bill was not taken up by the legislature earlier this year.
