News New Hampshire SB 564 Data Protection Division 2026
New Hampshire SB 564 establishes the Division of Data Protection within the New Hampshire Attorney General's office and creates a state data privacy task force.[1]
Bill Provisions
The bill creates a dedicated Division of Data Protection within the Office of the Attorney General, centralizing enforcement of New Hampshire's data privacy laws under a specialized unit rather than relying on the AG's general enforcement authority.[1]
New Hampshire's existing comprehensive data privacy law (HB 1597, signed March 6, 2024) grants the Attorney General exclusive enforcement authority, including 60-day cure notices for violations (required only until December 31, 2025), with the power to pursue actions afterward without notice. No private right of action exists under the existing law.[2][3]
SB 564 also establishes a state data privacy task force, though the specific duties and composition of the task force are not detailed in available legislative tracking sources.[1]
Legislative History
- Bill introduced in the 2026 Regular Session
- April 8, 2026: Passed the New Hampshire Senate unanimously, 43-0[1]
- As of April 13, 2026: Pending in the House of Representatives[1]
Current Status
SB 564 has passed the Senate and is now pending in the House. If enacted, it would formalize New Hampshire's commitment to data protection enforcement by creating a permanent, specialized division within the AG's office.[1]
Significance
The creation of a dedicated Data Protection Division within the AG's office signals New Hampshire's intent to increase enforcement capacity for its existing privacy law. This follows a national trend of states establishing specialized privacy enforcement units to address the complexity of data protection regulation and AI-related data concerns.