Pelosi expresses reservations about bipartisan privacy bill

A bipartisan privacy bill aimed at reining in the tech and data industries just hit a serious roadblock: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has issues with the legislation.

House rules: In a statement published on Thursday, Pelosi raised issues with the American Data Privacy and Protection Act (HR 8152) preempting state laws, specifically the ones in her home state of California. Without Pelosi's support, the bill likely won't make it to a floor vote in the House, despite making it through the Energy and Commerce Committee by a decisive 53-2 vote.

"California’s landmark privacy laws and the new kids age-appropriate design bill, both of which received unanimous and bipartisan support in both chambers, must continue to protect Californians — and states must be allowed to address rapid changes in technology," Pelosi said in her statement, which also commended the committee for its work on the bill.

California's dissent: Members of Congress from California, as well as lawmakers and officials in California, have pressed for the federal privacy bill to preserve the state's privacy laws, as well as the ability for other states to pass their own privacy laws where the federal legislation could fall short. Lawmakers backing the bill, such as its co-sponsor Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), argue that preempting state laws is necessary for the bill to have bipartisan support.

Pelosi said that she would continue to work with Pallone to address the concerns from California lawmakers.

"This is the most robust and comprehensive legislation to protect Americans’ privacy, and I’m laser focused on building support for final legislation that can be brought to the House floor and become law,” Pallone said in an emailed statement.