Bill > HB1887

This bill creates a comprehensive data broker registry and severance tax system in Washington State designed to increase transparency and generate revenue from businesses that collect and sell personal data. The legislation defines a "data broker" as a business entity that collects, aggregates, analyzing, buying, selling, and sharing personal information about Washington residents without their direct consent. Starting January 1, 2026, data brokers will be required to register annually with the Department of Licensing, providing detailed information about their data collection practices, including the types of data collected, processing methods, sales purposes, number of individuals affected, and security measures. The bill imposes a monthly severance tax on data brokers based on the number of resident individuals whose data they collect, with a tiered tax structure ranging from 5 to 55 cents per resident individual per month, depending on the volume of data collection. The tax increases progressively for businesses collecting data on more than 500,000 residents, with the highest tax rate applying to businesses collecting data on over 5,000,000 residents. The legislation aims to provide transparency into the data brokering industry, protect consumer privacy, and generate revenue for the state by recognizing the economic value of personal data in the digital age.

Business and Industry

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1887&Year=2025&Initiative=false