Where you stand in these 30 states

If you live in one of the 30 states without a comprehensive data privacy law, you can't compel most businesses to give you access to your data, delete it, or stop selling it under your state's own law. You have no state-level right to opt out of targeted advertising or profiling.

That doesn't mean you're unprotected. Every one of these states has a data breach notification statute: companies must tell you if your personal information is compromised. Most have consumer protection statutes (UDAP laws) that prohibit deceptive practices. Federal law and the laws of other states, especially California, extend rights that reach across state lines.

The practical gap: Residents of states with comprehensive privacy laws can compel a business to delete their data and face penalties if it refuses. Residents of these 30 states must rely on the business's willingness to honor requests, or on the fact that the business is also covered by California, Colorado, or another state's law. Most large national data brokers are CCPA-covered, which means the practical gap is smaller than the legal gap for broker removals specifically.

Enacted laws not yet in effect

  • Alabama: Alabama Personal Data Protection Act, enacted April 2026, effective May 1, 2027. Virginia-model rights (access, delete, correct, and opt out of sale, targeting, and profiling), applying to businesses that handle data of 25,000 or more consumers.
  • Louisiana: Louisiana Data Privacy Act (LDPA), enacted May 2026, effective January 1, 2027. Access, delete, and opt-out rights.
  • Oklahoma: Oklahoma Consumer Data Privacy Act (OCDPA), enacted March 2026, effective January 1, 2027.
  • Vermont: Vermont Data Privacy and Online Surveillance Act, enacted June 2026, effective January 1, 2028. Connecticut-model rights (access, delete, correct, and opt out of sale, targeting, and profiling).

All 30 states + D.C.

The table below shows each state's breach notification law and any notable special protections beyond the baseline. Every state listed has no comprehensive privacy law in effect as of 2026.

State Breach notification Special protections Upcoming law
AlabamaData Breach Notification Act (2018)App-store age verification (2026)APDPA effective May 2027
AlaskaPersonal Information Protection ActAddress confidentiality (DV survivors)Bills introduced, none enacted
ArizonaAriz. Rev. Stat. § 18-552Address confidentiality (DV/stalking survivors)None enacted
ArkansasPersonal Information Protection ActNone notedNone enacted
D.C.Security Breach Protection ActNone notedBills proposed, not enacted
GeorgiaGa. Code Ann. § 10-1-910Address confidentiality programBills introduced, none enacted
HawaiiHaw. Rev. Stat. § 487NStudent data privacy protectionsBills considered, none enacted
IdahoIdaho Code § 28-51-104Address confidentiality (DV survivors)None enacted
IllinoisPersonal Information Protection ActBIPA (biometric privacy, private right of action); SOPPA (student data); Genetic Information Privacy ActComprehensive bill in committee
KansasKan. Stat. Ann. § 50-7a01Address confidentiality programNone enacted
LouisianaDatabase Security Breach Notification LawAddress protection for officialsLDPA effective Jan 2027
MaineNotice of Risk to Personal Data ActISP privacy law (restricts ISP data use)None enacted
MassachusettsData security regulations (201 CMR 17.00)Strong data-security rules; broad consumer protection (private right of action)Actively debated, not enacted
MichiganIdentity Theft Protection ActMinors' online safety consideredBills introduced, none enacted
MississippiMiss. Code Ann. § 75-24-29Address confidentiality programNone enacted
MissouriMo. Rev. Stat. § 407.1500Address protection for judicial officersBills moving, none enacted
NevadaNRS 603A breach notificationOnline sale opt-out (SB 220); Consumer health data law (SB 370)None enacted
New MexicoData Breach Notification ActAddress confidentiality programBills introduced, none enacted
New YorkSHIELD Act (data security + breach)Child Data Protection Act (2025); strong UDAPNY Privacy Act pending
North CarolinaIdentity Theft Protection ActFree security freezesBills introduced, none enacted
North DakotaN.D. Cent. Code § 51-30None notedNone enacted
OhioOhio Rev. Code § 1349.19Data Protection Act safe harborPersonal Privacy Act reintroduced
OklahomaSecurity Breach Notification ActAddress confidentiality programOCDPA effective Jan 2027
PennsylvaniaBreach of Personal Information Notification ActAddress confidentiality programConsumer Data Privacy Act introduced
South CarolinaS.C. Code Ann. § 39-1-90Judicial/LE Personal Privacy Protection Act (2026)None enacted
South DakotaS.D. Codified Laws § 22-40-19Address confidentiality programNone enacted
VermontBreach notification statuteData broker registration law (nation's first); Minors' Age-Appropriate Design CodeVDPSA effective Jan 2028
WashingtonRCW 19.255.010 breach notificationMy Health My Data Act (consumer health data); biometric law (RCW 19.375)WA Privacy Act repeatedly failed
West VirginiaW.Va. Code § 46A-2A-101Daniel's Law-style address protectionNone enacted
WisconsinWis. Stat. § 134.98Judicial privacy (Wis. Stat. § 757.07)WI Data Privacy Act introduced
WyomingWyo. Stat. Ann. § 40-12-501Address confidentiality programBills introduced, none enacted

Data as of July 2026. The "upcoming law" column reflects legislation enacted but not yet in effect, or active legislative efforts. Sources: IAPP US State Privacy Legislation Tracker, individual state AG offices, and the statutes cited.

State law doesn't have to be your only protection. A free scan shows which data brokers have your personal information. Delist files opt-outs on your behalf under federal and cross-state rights, then keeps checking for data that comes back.

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What you can still do

You still have recourse. These steps work regardless of where you live.

Use California's CCPA against national brokers

Most large data brokers meet California's CCPA thresholds (annual revenue over $25 million, or buying or selling the data of 100,000 or more consumers). These businesses must honor deletion and opt-out requests from any consumer whose data they hold. You don't need to be a California resident to submit a request, though the broker is only obligated to honor it under CCPA if you are. In practice, most national brokers process requests from all states because it's simpler than filtering by geography.

Enable Global Privacy Control (GPC)

The Global Privacy Control is a browser-level signal that tells websites you don't want your data sold or shared. California requires CCPA-covered businesses to honor it, and Colorado requires it for CPA-covered businesses. Major browsers (Firefox, Brave, DuckDuckGo) support it natively; others through extensions. Enabling GPC is a one-time setting that sends a standing opt-out signal to every covered site you visit.

Submit direct opt-out requests

Most data brokers offer an opt-out process, whether or not your state requires it. The process varies by broker: some use a simple web form, others require identity verification by email or mail. The challenge is volume, since your information can appear on dozens of broker sites. A removal service automates these requests and re-files when your data reappears.

Use California DROP (California residents only)

If you live in California, the DELETE Request and Opt-out Platform (DROP) went live January 1, 2026. It lets you submit a single free deletion request covering every registered data broker (roughly 500 as of early 2026). Brokers must process requests every 45 days starting August 1, 2026. DROP only covers California-registered brokers and California residents.

File complaints under existing state law

Even without a comprehensive privacy law, your state's attorney general can pursue deceptive-practice claims against businesses that misrepresent their data handling. If a company's privacy policy says it will honor deletion requests and then ignores them, that is potentially a UDAP violation in every state. File complaints with your state AG's consumer protection division.

Notable state-specific protections: Illinois has BIPA (biometric privacy with a private right of action). Massachusetts has some of the strongest data-security regulations in the country (201 CMR 17.00). Washington has the My Health My Data Act for consumer health data. Vermont has the nation's first data-broker registration law (transparency, not removal rights). Nevada has a targeted online-sale opt-out. These are not substitutes for comprehensive privacy laws, but they provide meaningful sector-specific protections.

Frequently asked questions

Which states have no data privacy law?

As of 2026, 30 states plus D.C. have no comprehensive data privacy law in effect: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, D.C., Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Four of these (Alabama, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Vermont) have enacted comprehensive laws that aren't in effect yet. All have breach-notification laws.

Can I still get my data removed from brokers?

Yes. Most national data brokers are covered by California's CCPA regardless of where you live. You can submit opt-out and deletion requests to CCPA-covered brokers from any state. You can also enable the Global Privacy Control in your browser, which California and Colorado require businesses to honor. A data removal service handles these requests for you and re-files when your data reappears.

What protections do I have without a comprehensive privacy law?

Every state has a data breach notification law. Most have consumer protection statutes that prohibit deceptive practices. Some states have additional protections: Illinois has BIPA (biometric privacy), Massachusetts has strong data-security rules, Washington has the My Health My Data Act, and Vermont has a data-broker registration law. What you lack is the right to compel businesses to give you access to, delete, or stop selling your data under your own state's law.

See your exposure, whatever your state law

A free scan shows which data brokers have your personal information. Delist files removals under federal and cross-state rights, so you don't need a state privacy law to start.

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Sources

  1. IAPP, US State Privacy Legislation Tracker (iapp.org)
  2. California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA/CPRA), Cal. Civ. Code § 1798.100 et seq.
  3. California DELETE Act and DROP platform (cppa.ca.gov)
  4. Global Privacy Control specification (globalprivacycontrol.org)
  5. Individual state statutes cited in the table above (verified against official state code databases and AG websites)