State Data Breach Notification Laws: Overview Of Requirements For Responding To A Data Breach - Updated June 2021

With the ever-changing complexity of state data breach notification laws, companies facing a data breach need resources that will help them understand the issues.  This summary provides an overview of the similarities and differences in data breach laws adopted in the 50 United States and District of Columbia.  All states require that affected residents be notified of a security breach (as that term is defined in each law), and many also require that state agencies and the three major national credit reporting agencies be notified in certain circumstances.  Many state agencies require or permit companies to submit notices online, and some agencies publicly post copies of the notices they receive.  As a practical matter, most companies that experience a breach that affects their customers, employees, or other individuals with whom they have a relationship will be required to comply with all or several state laws depending on where the individuals reside, and