The Vermont Senate gave a stamp of approval Wednesday to a bill that takes on privacy and technology.
In a 28 to 0 vote, the chamber gave a preliminary OK to S.155. It’s the first major piece of legislation to pass through the upper chamber in the second half of the biennium.
Technology is advancing so quickly, “we are trying to play legislative catch up,” said Sen. Joe Benning, R-Caledonia, a co-sponsor of the legislation, while reporting the bill on the Senate floor.
The bill addresses privacy issues in four major areas, including protection of health information and use of data from automated license plate readers. It also stipulates when law enforcement needs a warrant when cellphone data and drones are involved.
Sen. Tim Ashe, D/P-Chittenden, another co-sponsor, said the legislation is an effort to reinvigorate discussion in Vermont about privacy and new technologies.
“Our bill is a good first step,” Ashe said.
On the floor, lawmakers noted the bill came with unanimous support from the Senate Judiciary Committee, which met in the fall to advance work on the bill.
Several key players in Vermont’s criminal justice system contributed input to the bill. But some have raised concerns, including the Vermont chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.
In the Senate on Wednesday, Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Sears, D-Bennington, lauded the legislation as an important step.
“This is truly an historic bill, and I hope we all realize the nature of this advancement,” he said.
S.155 is to come up for a final vote in the Senate on Thursday, then cross over to the House.
