How the 2020 elections will shape the federal privacy debate

The 116th Congress opened with great energy and promise for federal privacy legislation across both houses and parties. The main action took place in the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, where Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) once called for a federal privacy law “on the books by the end of 2019” and senior members engaged in bipartisan negotiations. That was far from the only activity, though—the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senate Banking Committee also held hearings and explored legislation. In all, more than 30 bills have been filed since the 2018 election.