Senate committee advances bill shielding utilities that share IP/geolocation with emergency responders

Senator Stearch introduced Senate Bill 204 on the committee floor, saying the measure would shield utility companies from lawsuits when they provide IP or geolocation information to emergency personnel during urgent situations. He said the proposal builds on earlier law that allowed carriers to provide cell-tower pings to responders and was prompted by a recent local case involving a suicide where VoIP and online-chat locations were needed.

The bill’s sponsor, Senator Stearch, told the panel the text adds limits to prevent misuse and practical flexibility for smaller providers. "It holds the utility company harmless," he said, and the bill allows companies to provide information only if they can do so within a reasonable time frame; some small providers may be able to respond within an hour or two rather than 24/7 staffing.

Senator Stearch also said the bill includes reporting routes if a utility suspects requests are being abused: utilities could report suspected abuse to the state police, and if the state police were suspected, the utility could report to the attorney general. He said lawmakers and providers worked together to refine language and that most providers supported the changes.

There were no registered proponents or opponents during the committee session. After the presentation, Senator Pitch moved to pass the bill and Senator Desmaine seconded. The committee approved SB 204 by voice vote.

The committee recorded no further action; the bill now moves to the next step in the legislative process.