Industry Bets State Privacy Laws Clear Way for Federal Standard

Industry-friendly privacy standards are proliferating across nearly half the country thanks to state legislators, spurring hopes from businesses and some GOP lawmakers that it will take hold as a national model.

With four state privacy laws signed so far in 2026 —Alabama, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Vermont—23 states now have adopted comprehensive privacy laws. What has emerged is a dominant template: universal opt-out rights, enforcement by attorneys general, and no private right of action.

Republican lawmakers and industry groups hope that the growing adoption of a state legislation, which also curbs restrictions on data brokers, will support their argument for a ...