US State Privacy

US State Privacy Laws

Start with where your data subjects are, not where you are incorporated. Then test against each state's thresholds.

Where to start

Start with where your data subjects are, not where you are incorporated. Then test against each state's thresholds, which typically turn on revenue, the number of residents whose data you process, or the share of revenue derived from selling personal data.

How thresholds work

Thresholds typically turn on revenue, the number of residents whose data you process, or the share of revenue derived from selling personal data. The genuine differences across states are in thresholds and exemptions, the treatment of sensitive data, whether universal opt-out signals must be honored, cure periods, and the specific assessment obligations.

What is broadly consistent across states

  • Privacy notices
  • Access, deletion, correction and portability rights
  • Opt-outs of sale, targeted advertising and profiling
  • Consent for sensitive data
  • Processor contracts
  • Assessments for higher-risk processing

Where states genuinely diverge

  • Thresholds and exemptions
  • The treatment of sensitive data
  • Whether universal opt-out signals must be honored
  • Cure periods
  • Specific assessment obligations

Why most organizations build to the strictest applicable standard

In practice most companies build to the strictest applicable standard and apply it uniformly, because operating divergent processes by state costs more than it saves.

Last reviewed 4 September 2026. These pages are reviewed quarterly; if a date here is more than three months old, ask before relying on it.

The work cannot keep pace because it sits with one person carrying it alongside another full-time role.

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A defined audit or gap assessment is the typical starting point — fixed scope, fixed fee, delivered in four to twelve weeks.

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