SIIA and eight organizations representing automotive, health care, payment card, retail, technology, telecom industries and various Florida Hispanic-owned businesses support legislation to protect consumers privacy. However, we have concerns with the approach of SB 262 and appreciate the opportunity to detail our concerns.

SB 262 would fall short in providing consumers with meaningful privacy protections while also imposing overly burdensome requirements and penalties on businesses. Such restrictions could diminish services for Florida consumers and small businesses alike. SB 262 fails to balance both consumer protection and the needs of Florida’s economy, preventing small businesses from gathering necessary information about their consumers that helps match interested consumers with local businesses’ products and services.

While we have concerns about SB 262, we share Florida lawmakers’ vested interest in establishing consumer privacy rights and welcome an opportunity to discuss and work through a balanced approach that protects consumers and continues to allow local businesses to grow and thrive.