Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Consumer Protection topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
House overrides veto on consumer privacy bill with narrowed private right of action
Summary
The House voted 128‑17 to override the governor’s veto of H.121, a consumer privacy and age-appropriate design bill supporters say protects children and consumers while opponents warned of litigation risk and business burdens.
The Vermont House overrode the governor’s veto of H.121, legislation addressing consumer privacy and establishing an age-appropriate design code. Supporters framed the bill as necessary to protect children from manipulative digital design and to give Vermonters avenues for redress; opponents warned the bill combines multiple efforts, risks costly litigation and could burden small businesses.
Member from Bradford said the bill was carefully drafted and narrowed to avoid interfering with first-party advertising and loyalty programs. He quoted the U.S. Surgeon General on the risks social platforms pose to children and said H.121 will help families seek private action after privacy harms. “Companies should not be profiting from the sale of consumers’ most personal data,” Bradford said.
Member from Fulton argued the legislation’s breadth could invite constitutional litigation, pointing to ongoing cases in California, and expressed concern about the private right of action. Member from Coventry defended the bill’s tailoring and said the private right of action was narrowed so the attorney general could prioritize larger cases while individuals could pursue smaller claims.
The clerk recorded 145 members present; the tally was 128 yes and 17 no, exceeding the two-thirds threshold. The House ordered its action messaged to the Senate.
Next steps: the House messaged the override to the Senate and implementation and potential litigation outcomes will follow.
