Connecticut Senate Passes Sweeping Consumer Privacy Bill, Eyes Data Brokers
Connecticut Senate passed Senate Bill 4, expanding data privacy protections and regulating data brokers.
Why it matters: Rapid changes in state privacy laws, especially Connecticut's push for stricter rules, mean legal and compliance teams must closely monitor developments to advise clients and ensure ongoing compliance as regulations evolve.
- Senate Bill 4 passed 31-4 on April 23, 2026, amending Connecticut’s 2023 Data Privacy Act.
- The bill regulates data brokers and bans the sale of precise geolocation data.
- Businesses must disclose facial recognition at entrances and allow consumers to request image removal.
- Senate Bill 4 now heads to the Connecticut House of Representatives.
On April 23, 2026, the Connecticut Senate approved Senate Bill 4, an update to its 2023 Data Privacy Act. The measure introduces new requirements for consumer privacy, including robust oversight of data brokers.
- Senate Bill 4 requires data brokers to let consumers request the deletion of their data at no charge, expanding individuals’ rights to control personal information.
- The legislation prohibits the sale or sharing of precise geolocation data by controllers and processors, aiming to limit intrusive commercial tracking.
- Businesses using facial recognition technology in public spaces must post clear disclosures at each entrance and set up a process for consumers to seek removal of their images.
Senator James Maroney, Chair of the General Law Committee, emphasized the goal: "Every Connecticut resident deserves to know that their personal information including where they live, where they worship, where they seek medical care isn’t being bought and sold without their knowledge or consent."
The bill, following its decisive 31-4 Senate approval, now moves to the House of Representatives for further consideration. Connecticut continues to be a state to watch, having passed one of the country’s earliest comprehensive privacy laws in 2023.
While other states such as California, Colorado, Delaware, and Louisiana also saw legislative movement on privacy measures in April, specific details on their actions were not provided in available reports.
Opposition points to broader impacts: Senator Tony Hwang warned, “We are creating unintended consequences that will drive businesses out of the state of Connecticut.”
By the numbers:
- 31-4 — Senate vote approving Connecticut’s Senate Bill 4 on April 23, 2026.
- 2023 — Year Connecticut enacted its original Data Privacy Act.
- 5 — Connecticut’s rank among states with comprehensive privacy laws in 2023.
Yes, but: Some lawmakers caution that strengthened privacy laws could create compliance burdens and discourage business investment in the state.
What's next: Senate Bill 4 will be debated and voted on in the Connecticut House of Representatives.