The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Missouri House Bill 1970 Establishes Biometric Information Privacy Act to Regulate Data Collection
Last action · May 15, 2026: Referred: Emerging Issues(H)Sponsor: Doug Clemens
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Would Do
House Bill 1970 establishes the Biometric Information Privacy Act, requiring private entities to obtain before collecting s and prohibiting the sale, lease, or trade of such data.
Private businesses operating in Missouri face new legal liabilities and mandatory data destruction timelines when handling biometric data like fingerprints or facial scans, while individuals gain a private right of action in court for violations.
- The General Assembly is the legislative branch of the state of Missouri responsible for enacting state laws. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Private entities
Private businesses and corporations must establish written retention policies, obtain written releases before collecting biometric data, and comply with prohibitions on selling or disclosing biometric information.
Employees
Employees may be asked to execute a written release as a condition of employment for secure access or time tracking, and gain protections against unauthorized tracking of location or software usage.
Consumers
Consumers gain the right to receive written notice and provide consent before their biometric data is collected, and hold a private right of action for statutory damages if violations occur.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of data are excluded from the definition of a biometric identifier?
Can an employer require a written release for biometric collection as a condition of employment?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
4 actions- May 15, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred: Emerging Issues(H)
- Jan 8, 2026HouseFloorRead Second Time (H)
- Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroducedRead First Time (H)
- Dec 1, 2025HouseIntroducedPrefiled (H)
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Creation of Statutory Private Right of Action
The bill establishes a statutory right for individuals to file class actions or individual suits in state or federal court for biometric privacy violations with mandatory attorney fee shifting.
Connected Entities
Sources
house.mo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy60Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz45Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools