Rep. Shaw previews Alabama Personal Data Protection Act; consumer group warns bill weak on enforcement

Representative Shaw introduced H.B. 283, the Alabama Personal Data Protection Act, to the committee and described the bill's coverage, consumer rights and enforcement structure. "This is HB 283, the Alabama Personal Data Protection Act," Shaw said. He described the draft as roughly a "30 page bill" that defines what businesses are covered, what rights individuals have over their data (create, read, update, delete) and how businesses must treat that data. Shaw said enforcement rests with the attorney general and that the bill includes a corrective fine of $10,000 for failures to correct violations.

Ben Baker, speaking for the Alabama Association of Justice, told the committee the group "opposes the bill in its current form." He said consumer protections had been weakened and that some obligations placed on businesses were framed as voluntary public commitments rather than enforceable duties. "Publicly commit doesn't mean they're going to do it," Baker said, adding the group prefers stronger AG enforcement and private remedies that allow compensation to injured consumers. Baker referenced the Alabama Genetic Data Privacy Act as an example of stronger criteria and said he believes parts of the draft "take those rights away from consumers in violation of the section 11 and 13 of our constitution."

Shaw acknowledged extensive stakeholder input during drafting, saying he received "no less than 16 full red line write ups" and that the committee had spent months trying to incorporate suggestions. He said the bill is intended to avoid duplicative regulation where other laws already apply and to make compliance simpler for businesses and exercise of rights simpler for consumers. The committee scheduled a public hearing on the measure but, following comments, the chair said the committee would "carry it over" for further work.

The transcript records no committee vote on H.B. 283 during this segment. Representatives and public commenters asked for additional work on enforceability and compensation mechanisms, and the sponsor and interested parties signaled willingness to continue discussions in the off-season.