Wednesday, February 17, 2021
On January 14, 2021, Massachusetts’ Governor Charlie Baker signed a comprehensive economic development bill H.5250 (the “Act”) which aims to infuse more than $600 million into the pandemic-ravaged Massachusetts economy by supporting businesses, encouraging job growth, and spurring housing development. Included with the development and funding provisions, the Act revised portions of General Laws c. 40A (the “Zoning Act”) relating to appeals of municipal zoning decisions, thresholds for municipalities to enact or amend zoning bylaws and ordinances, and incentives for municipalities to encourage transit-oriented development, multifamily housing, and mixed-use development. Developers and municipalities alike should be encouraged by these changes which are aimed at boosting development across the Commonwealth.
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Virginia is for lovers and, in the near future, may be for privacy as well, as the Commonwealth’s legislature is currently considering adopting its own comprehensive consumer data privacy law: The Consumer Data Protection Act (CDPA).
The CDPA, which would establish a framework for controlling and processing personal data in Virginia, is comprised of House Bill 2307 and Senate Bill 1392, and appears to be close to crossing the goal line in Richmond. The House passed its bill on January 29, 2021, and subsequently referred it to the Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology on February 1. Similarly, the Senate unanimously passed its bill on February 3, and it was referred to the House Committee on Communications, Technology and Innovation on February 7. All that remains now is for the House and Senate to complete the reconciliation process and present the legislation to Governor Ralph Northam for his approval, which
Sunday, February 14, 2021
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In the coming months, as we emerge from our pandemic nightmare, thousands of Rhode Islanders – often low-income Rhode Islanders – will be confronted with a variety of legal actions touching on evictions to debt collections. Many, in need of basic legal support, will be left to fend for themselves in a process they often find mystifying.
The sad fact is that the existing legal services organizations are already overtaxed and there is no other mechanism in place to meet the needs of low-income Rhode Islanders. As some may know, for the past several years I have been a proponent of an Access To Justice Commission to determine which legal services would be necessary to serve the needs of underserved low-income Rhode Islanders, and how to actually do so.
Despite the short session, Virginia legislators could vote Friday to pass a comprehensive privacy bill modeled after Washington state’s proposal.
Industry stakeholders believe the lack of debate to include a private right of action, which Virginia’s bill doesn’t have, is the main item contributing to its speedy passage.
For years, U.S. lawmakers looking to craft their own privacy bills have only had two models to follow: the California Consumer Privacy Act and the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation.
But if all goes as expected in Virginia this month, the state could soon provide another blueprint that industry stakeholders, especially, would prefer to see replicated in other states and on the federal level.