View source for 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.<ref name="transparency">[https://www.transparencycoalition.ai/news/ai-legislative-update-april10-2026 Transparency Coalition, "AI Legislative Update — April 10, 2026"]</ref>

== 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.<ref name="transparency"/>

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.<ref name="benesch">[https://www.beneschlaw.com/insight/new-hampshire-joins-data-protection-trend-passes-comprehensive-data-protection-law/ Benesch Law, "New Hampshire Joins Data Protection Trend"]</ref><ref name="hinshaw">[https://www.hinshawlaw.com/en/insights/privacy-cyber-and-ai-decoded-alert/qanda-new-hampshire-becomes-the-fourteenth-state-to-pass-a-data-privacy-lawwith-more-states-waiting-in-the-wings Hinshaw Law, "New Hampshire Becomes the Fourteenth State to Pass a Data Privacy Law"]</ref>

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.<ref name="transparency"/>

== Legislative History ==

* Bill introduced in the 2026 Regular Session
* '''April 8, 2026''': Passed the New Hampshire Senate '''unanimously, 43-0'''<ref name="transparency"/>
* As of April 13, 2026: Pending in the House of Representatives<ref name="transparency"/>

== 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.<ref name="transparency"/>

== 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.

== References ==
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[[Category:State Legislation]]
[[Category:Data Privacy]]
[[Category:Consumer Protection]]