ANA Statement on Passage of Vermont Privacy Law

May 13, 2024 — Chris Oswald, the ANA's EVP, Head of Law, Ethics, and Government Relations issued the below statement following the passage of Vermont's comprehensive privacy law, H. 121. 

"If signed into law, Vermont's privacy bill would be one of the most damaging in the nation, resulting in significant consumer harm, regulatory confusion, frivolous litigation, and economic injury to Vermont's small businesses. 

"Among the provisions of greatest concern in the bill is an unprecedented Private Right of Action that would foment a flood of feckless filings, driving up costs for Vermont residents and businesses while enriching unscrupulous out-of-state trial lawyers. Equally important, the law would make it difficult, if not impossible, for small and mid-sized Vermont businesses to find and reach potential customers using existing digital advertising platforms, hurting both individual businesses and the state's economy.  

"We plan to urge Governor Scott to reject this heavy-handed and destructive approach to privacy and send this bill back to the legislature to fix these significant issues."

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ABOUT THE ANA

The ANA (Association of National Advertisers) accelerates growth for marketing professionals, brands, and the entire industry. With a mission to shape the future of marketing, the ANA sets the agenda for the industry, connecting its members to unparalleled expertise, industry-leading resources, and an influential global network. Representing over 1,600 companies — including 1,000+ client-side marketers, 600 marketing solutions providers, and 20,000 brands — ANA members collectively influence $400 billion in annual marketing spending. By championing the 12-point ANA Growth Agenda and the CMO Growth Council, the ANA drives actionable change, empowers marketers, shapes the marketing ecosystem, and delivers exceptional experiences at every touchpoint. Since 1910, the ANA has been setting the agenda for industry transformation. It enables marketers to advance their ambitions, make better decisions, and create lasting impact for their organizations and the industry.